By Akhona Valashiya
There’s no job description, no manual, and certainly no clock-out time. Yet every day, mothers show up — with strength in their hearts, love in their hands, and wisdom in their words. As we mark Mother’s Day, we pause to celebrate the women who raise nations, shape lives, and hold families together — often without applause or recognition.
From the early morning school runs and late-night lullabies to the warm meals, life lessons, and unwavering belief in their children’s dreams, moms embody a love that is unconditional and limitless. Whether she is a biological mom, a grandmother, an aunt, a guardian, or a mother figure — her love leaves footprints on our hearts forever.
In countless homes across South Africa, today is more than flowers and breakfast in bed. It’s about saying thank you for the sacrifices made in silence, the prayers whispered in the dark, and the endless encouragement that continues to echo through life’s highs and lows.
For 27-year-old Unathi Jobe from Daveyton, her mother’s strength was her guiding light through university. “She used to sell vetkoeks at the taxi rank just so I could buy books,” Sihle shares. “Today I’m a teacher because of her. She gave me everything she never had.”
It’s stories like Unathi’s that remind us: mothers are the quiet architects of possibility.
In townships, suburbs, and rural villages alike, mothers multitask as caregivers, breadwinners, counselors, and protectors — often against all odds. They do it with grace, grit, and a sense of humour that carries families through even the toughest seasons.
This Mother’s Day, may we celebrate their victories, honour their resilience, and reflect on their role not just in our lives, but in our society at large. Because when you empower a mother, you uplift a generation.
So, to every mother out there — we see you. We thank you. And most of all, we love you.
Happy Mother’s Day!
