Meet Lady Who Went From Housemaid to Varsity Graduate, Her Touching Story Inspires Many

Ntombizodwa Merriam Mahlangu, a former domestic worker turned University Graduate, Author, Entrepreneur, and Advocate for the Education of Young Women.

Born in the dusty streets of Tonteldoos, Emhlabaneni in Mpumalanga, South Africa, Merriam always dreamed of pursuing an education.

However, a lack of resources and development in the rural areas, a poor education system, financial difficulty, and unplanned pregnancy, all got in the way of her dreams.

“I grew up on a farm with my grandparents and three siblings, while my parents were in Gauteng trying to make a living. It was a tough environment with no electricity, no water supply, and extremely far from school,” said Ntombizodwa. 

Against all odds, she completed her high school in 2003 and moved to a shack in Mountain View village in KwaMhlanga to take care of her younger sister, while her parents worked in Benoni.

At age 19, she fell pregnant and had to pass on an opportunity to pursue her studies at Tshwane University of Technology.

To provide for her daughter, she started work as a domestic worker (housemaid) in Pretoria East in 2007.

In 2008, she worked for a family that was the catalyst in her success story.

For four years she served the family, while determined to still make something of herself. During this time, she taught herself to use a computer and microsoft office, learnt to drive, and eventually, found employment as a receptionist.

With the support of her employer, she started studying part-time in 2014

In 2018, at age 32, Ntombizodwa finally obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Public Administration and Communication Facilitation from the University of South Africa (Unisa). 

She managed to complete her degree while dealing with the passing of both her parents and while taking care of her daughter full-time.

Her late mother was a domestic worker and her late father worked in the construction sector. 

Ntombizodwa Merriam Mahlangu is the Founder of Help One Helper an NPC aimed at empowering helpers (domestic workers, gardeners, nannies and etc) to resume their learning journeys and reach their full potential.

On 13 July 2020, she published her autobiography titled Brightness of Diamonds Through Soil, the book is available at Exclusive Books, Bargain Books and on Amazon. 

READ ALSO: ASUU has turned me into Housemaid, Student Lament, Shares Video

Advocate Cornelius not only offered her employment, but he also took her in as his own daughter. Four years after working with Advocate Cornelius’s family, she had learned to use a computer and Microsoft office, learned to drive, and she eventually became a receptionist.

Sharing her academic success on social media, she noted that Advocate Cornelius has been very generous to her throughout her journey and referred to him as her father.

“#ImStaying because of my father, Adv A.J.A Cornelius. Our relationship started when I worked for him as a domestic worker and raising his daughter. He informally adopted me as his one of his daughters as well. This platform is not enough to share everything that he has done for me,” she said.

“I lost both my parents during my studies. He is the only parent I had on my graduation day. I hope my uncles will understand when I ask them to keep his portion from my ‘lobola’,” she added.

READ ALSO: Former Housemaid Narrates how she entered Varsity when she was almost 30 because she lost her dad early, graduates with first class

ALLSCHOOL TEAM