The Real Network The Ma(i)de Sessions

The Ma(i)de Sessions

Domestic workers and cleaners occupy a unique position in a society. They are simultaneously the most ubiquitous and invisible among us. They are ever-present in our personal, professional and public spaces but often go largely undetected. These women have the potential to be the most powerful and astute social commentators as they hold a mirror to ourselves, to our children, and to our fellow citizens. Be a fly on the wall as we gain their unique perspectives on an interesting range of matters that characterise South African society.
Weekly English South Africa Society & Culture · Health & Fitness
69 Episodes
36 – 56

Ma(i)de Resolute

Not uninspired by Her Majesty of talk, Oprah Winfrey, the ladies kick off 2017 with lessons learnt from their favourite shows of 2016. These may look and sound like New Year's resolutions but that's just a coincidence...Oprah would NEVER make everyman New Year's Resolutions...only timeless pearls of wisdom.
5 Jan 2017 51 min

The Spatial Canvas

The Ma(i)de Sessions hosts explore architecture's social and psychological properties and the impact that it has on domestic workers in South Africa, i.e. how does physical space affect our head-space? South Africa's history in particular is a prime example of how space has been used to segregate, oppress, exploit, and…
15 Dec 2016 58 min

On par?

Do you know the difference between the au pair industry and the domestic work industry? The origin might surprise you, but it will really clarify the dynamics. Our resident au pair Mbali is interviewed to uncover the real and perceived differences between such similar roles, as well as what created…
1 Dec 2016 58 min

Office Savvy with Nelly

Office cleaners are a huge asset to companies. Think about it. Who would want to work or spend their money in squalor? How would it affect your day if the office restrooms were stinky and the coffee station was unstocked. How would it affect your business if the client slipped…
17 Nov 2016 23 min

MAD Penny

After being strangled within an inch of her life in her own home, Penny didn't run from crime - instead she took it head on! She spearheaded Domestic Watch, a programme that works with domestic workers and gardeners to fight crime in South Africa. By leveraging the powerful networks and…
10 Nov 2016 58 min

Breaking Ground with Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka is a force of nature. She is both a legendary songstress and an active civil society leader. Celebrated across the world as one of the Mothers of our Nation, it all began with her very own mother, who was a domestic worker. Yvonne’s story is testament to…
3 Nov 2016 50 min

Whose Title is it Anyway?

Are we our industry name? A mere collection of adjectives? Pronouns, tags, stereotypical labels? Tuliza explores, with Afrikaans Urban Planner Lené le Roux, the many titles that have defined the lady in your home and how those words have mutated with the sometimes messy presence of culture, prejudice and personal…
27 Oct 2016 42 min

The Other Domestic

Felicia and Amanda had very different upbringings. Where their lives intersected was not just through domestic work, but also their deep mutual love for animals of the domesticated kind. Although sometimes a horror story between domestic worker and family pet, this dynamic duo helps us explore the source of their…
20 Oct 2016 41 min

The Interview: Mfundo

Do you know how to make a baby bottle? Wash a dog? Mow the lawn? Discipline a child that is not yours? We start today with the first of The Interview Series, where we will conduct less-than-conventional interviews on behalf of a high profile 'madam' in search of a perfect…
13 Oct 2016 47 min

Ma(i)de Views: Linda

Sometimes professions turn into family legacies; this isn’t always a good thing. We’ve found that most of the women we’ve spoken to have found themselves in their jobs by accident, one usually brokered by a third party (most often a family member). Like many domestic workers, Linda inherited her job…
6 Oct 2016 38 min

Guerrilla Warfare

The ladies reflect on their journey so far. It's certainly been a whirlwind. They share some of the lessons they've learnt about forgiveness, stigma, and the art of guerrilla warfare.
29 Sep 2016 39 min

Game Theory: Stima

Sometimes seemingly simple conversations can become hard. Often we find ourselves talking AT each other rather than TO each other; in an effort to be heard. Our conversation with Stima unfolded in this fashion. She expelled her thoughts under the topic of 'money and power'; an ever-so-present and prevalent force…
22 Sep 2016 21 min

Bantu Reflections

The ladies reflect on last week's parody show, Your Bantu Servant and You. They try to figure out what parts of this whacky document by the Department of Non-European Affairs of 1962 are fact or fiction in present day South Africa. They also introduce us to an official open letter…
8 Sep 2016 45 min

Your Bantu Servant and You

This broadcast has been prepared by the Department of Non-European Affairs in hopes that it will help you in your day to day dealings with your Bantu servant. Remember ladies, never appear in front of your male servants in a state of undress! This and more in a Ma(i)de Sessions…
1 Sep 2016 16 min

Ma(i)de with Zim Conversations

What if you left the country on a holiday to visit your spouse who was working in Zimbabwe to feed your family? What if suddenly you couldn't come back home and had to leave your kids in the care of their grandparents in a South Africa that was being run…
25 Aug 2016 56 min

Ma(i)de Views: Amanda Horwitz (Part 2)

Amanda is a white South African whose earliest memories of domestic work are from the dark (or rather white) ages of Apartheid. She talks us through her bittersweet experiences with the women who have played an indelible role in her life. Amanda’s is a South African journey in all its…
18 Aug 2016 43 min

Ma(i)de Views: Amanda Horwitz (Part 1)

Amanda is a white South African whose earliest memories of domestic work are from the dark (or rather white) ages of Apartheid. She talks us through her bittersweet experiences with the women who have played an indelible role in her life. Amanda’s is a South African journey in all its…
11 Aug 2016 34 min

The South African Way

Domestic work is one of those areas where in many ways South Africa is considered the special child in the global community. Ruth is an expat living in South Africa and she joins the Ma(i)de Sessions to give an outsider’s observations on our local remix of this global institution. To…
4 Aug 2016 32 min

21st Century Marriage Pt2: Something old, something new?

What is the difference between polygamy and cheating? Is a man a financial plan? Should married couples have separate bedrooms or even houses? And then there are mother-in-laws... 'nuff said. This and more in Pt 2!
28 Jul 2016 36 min

21st Century Marriage Pt1: Something old, something new?

21st century marriages are a dramatic affair with the old and the new constantly battling co-existence. Langa and Mandla come from different generations and have 35 years of domestic work experience between them. Drawing from their own experiences in addition to having worked for a variety of couples, they provide…
21 Jul 2016 34 min
36 – 56