Sherly Mukansi

IN A building teeming with male security officers, Sherly Mukansi stands out.

Perfectly turned out, she is ever-so-quick to greet or assist where possible at her post on the ground floor at Independent Media in Pixley ka Seme Street in Joburg.

A mother of a four-year-old son, Mukansi, 32, lives in Protea South, Soweto.

Sharing her experiences of being a working mom, Mukansi says the most disheartening aspect is not being able to do the school run with her child.

She works a 12-hour shift. Her partner has to take their son to and from school.

“I get to work at 5.30am. I usually wake up at 4 am. I leave work at 6 pm. It’s a 12-hour shift from Monday to Friday.”

It may be long days but she appreciates working during the day. In previous jobs she worked at night with male colleagues.

Mukansi arrived in Joburg from Limpopo in 2004 with a matric certificate.

She did not have enough money to further her studies but still harbours a dream of becoming a school teacher.

She also took care of her two younger brother who joined her in Joburg. They are both employed now and still live with her.

Mukansi is very passionate about issues affecting women.“Women’s Month is important because it teaches you to better yourself as a woman. Before we couldn’t be a site supervisor, for example. Now, as women, we can.”

She also feels strongly about empowering people, including her sisters.

“When not working, I use my sewing machine to mend clothes that people bring to me. I also make beaded jewellery and I crochet.

“I would love for my sisters, who feel stuck in their marriages, to start their own businesses to provide for their kids.”

Mukansi believes in leading by example and lives by that. – Debashine Thangevelo