Our Journey

Purpose & Values

Our People

Becoming

Beholding

Beyonding

News & Features

Menu

Pinky Mashiane

Founder and President, United Domestic Workers of South Africa (UDWOSA)

South Africa

I'm the founder and president of the United Domestic Workers Of South Africa (UDWOSA). I represent the interests of domestic workers, the most vulnerable workers in the world and I'm determined to make sure that domestic workers are treated with respect and dignity. My activism and advocacy for domestic workers has changed South Africa’s Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) which excluded domestic workers until the 19th November 2020.

The landmark case I started with—the case of Maria Mahlangu, a domestic worker who fell into a swimming pool and drowned—singlehandedly brought justice for all domestic workers in South Africa. It led to the Constitutional Court ‘s ruling that domestic workers should be included in COIDA with immediate effect, and the ruling applies retrospectively to 27th April 1994.

A Studio for Race and the Future

© 2026 21Hundred. All Rights Reserved.

Scott House, Fora Suite 1
The Concourse, Waterloo Station
London SE1 7LY
United Kingdom

Workshop 17
Cnr Jan Smuts and William Nicol Drive
Hyde Park
Johannesburg 2196
South Africa

A Studio for Race and the Future

© 2026 21Hundred. All Rights Reserved.

Scott House, Fora Suite 1
The Concourse, Waterloo Station
London SE1 7LY
United Kingdom

Workshop 17
Cnr Jan Smuts and William Nicol Drive
Hyde Park
Johannesburg 2196
South Africa

A Studio for Race and the Future

© 2026 21Hundred. All Rights Reserved.

Scott House, Fora Suite 1
The Concourse, Waterloo Station
London SE1 7LY
United Kingdom

Workshop 17
Cnr Jan Smuts and William Nicol Drive
Hyde Park
Johannesburg 2196
South Africa