Domestic work is real work. AskMandla is here to help South African employers value and do right by their domestic workers, ensuring the Mamas and Aunties who run our homes can build a secure future for themselves too.
South Africa (23 July 2026) – Most, if not all of us, can relate to having had a trusted person working in our homes at some point in our lives. Whether it was the nurturing nanny who helped us get ready for school, the friendly gardener who regularly tended to the lawn, or the domestic worker who has been around for years and keeps the entire home running, we’ve known them, welcomed them into our homes, and even appreciated them as family.
They work hard and are remunerated for it. However, when an employee is viewed as “part of the family”, conversations around money or leave can become awkward, and professional boundaries can easily blur. This gap becomes even more apparent when a domestic worker needs formal documentation, such as a payslip or proof of employment.
As so much in our world continues to change and advance, have you ever stopped to wonder why the way we view and value the people who run our homes has not changed, too?
Think about it. Have you ever considered drafting a contract for your gardener, or presenting your elderly mother’s caregiver with a UIF application?
For many households, compliance and formal processes have never really been part of the equation. This is not because employers don’t want to do the right thing, but simply because “that’s just the way it’s always been” – until now.
AskMandla, a WhatsApp-first fintech platform, is changing the way South Africans think about domestic work. It formalises domestic employment as a recognised profession while helping employers do right by the people who keep their homes in order.
Because domestic work is real work.
Just like any other working person who clocks in daily and fulfils their duties, so too does the Mama, Auntie or Uncle working in a residential home. They also deserve a proper contract, the ability to apply for leave, and the security of being registered for UIF.
Consider something as “simple” as a payslip, which so many of us receive monthly, but Sis Mavis, who has worked for over 10 years in one or several homes, has not.
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AskMandla helps households manage domestic employment in a simple, compliant and human-first way.
Through a simple WhatsApp chat, employers can register their domestic employees for UIF, manage contracts, payroll and payslips, and get basic HR guidance. Workers, in turn, gain access to the documents and support that recognise their work as real employment, as well as access to money they have already earned before payday.
It makes compliance simple and helps employers value their employees in a more meaningful way.
AskMandla’s purpose is simple: to bring dignity, structure and fairness to everyday domestic working relationships.
For more information or to sign up, visit askmandla.com.
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