Cape Town - When domestic worker Gloria Kente went to the police after being called “k*****” once too often by her employer’s partner, she was trying to escape the abuse.
It did not occur to her then that she was fighting a battle not only for herself, but for many other domestic workers.On Friday, the Equality Court ordered that she be paid R50 000 in damages by Andre van Deventer, 35, who admitted calling Kente, 50, “k*****” during a heated argument in June last year. The court also ordered Van Deventer to apologise.
“I’m happy that justice was on my side this time,” Kente told the Cape Times.
“For a very long time I felt like a nobody. I felt like someone who was useless because another person told me I was useless. I’m really happy that I spoke out about the abuse I suffered. I was not doing it just for myself, but other women who have a similar problem.”
Kente told the court she had endured racial abuse from Van Deventer, with his use of the k-word many times since 2006. In the last incident, he had also spat in her face.
Van Deventer is facing charges of common assault and crimen injuria in a criminal matter before the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court. Closing arguments are to be heard on November 13.
Kente said her dignity had been restored through the Equality Court case. She was trying to put the humiliation of the incidents behind her.
She has become involved with the SA Domestic Services and Allied Workers Union, where she volunteers her time to encourage other women in similar predicaments to speak out.
She said speaking out against one’s employer was difficult for many women because they were sole breadwinners and did not want to risk losing their jobs.
“You just tell yourself to hang in there because you have children to feed, and you carry on as if everything is fine.”
While she was employed by Van Deventer’s partner, Mariechin Pienaar, in Table View, Kente had been providing for her family in Khayelitsha, but was retrenched at the end of June, after eight years of service. She has not had an income since because her two children are also unemployed. She also has two grandchildren to support. Her situation was difficult and she was receiving phone calls from creditors about outstanding payments, Kente said.
Sindiswa Ningiza, provincial organiser of the domestic workers’ union, said the outcome of the Equality Court case should serve as a lesson to employers who were abusive towards domestic workers. She hoped other abused workers would come forward.
The union was encouraging domestic workers to join it.
Cape Times