ABONGILE Mfuleni takes care of kids whose parents go out on weekends.
Even if the mother goes for a sleepover, Abongile still looks after the child overnight.
She has three people who help her during the day on weekdays.
The 36-year-old from Site C in Khayelitsha said she couldn’t get a job and decided to do a certificate in childcare.
“I realised that a lot of young mothers want to go out and have fun, but they don’t have someone to leave their kids with.
“It is not safe for kids out there.
“Kids are stolen, murdered and raped out there, so I thought parents should go out in peace knowing that their kids are safe at my place,” she said.
Abongile started her business in February with only three kids, but when Daily Sun visited her house on Saturday, 15 October, there were 21 children.
She said her business grew as she advertised on Facebook. and people bring kids from as far as Paarl.
“One mother told me she was going to Gauteng and will come back next week.
“The other one went to the Eastern Cape for a funeral and she will also come next week.
“Some said they were going to have fun and they will take the kids on Sunday night, so I have to look after them all weekend,” she said.
Depending on the situation, Abongile negotiates with the parents based on the amount they have.
She also asks the parents to leave some food, but she sometimes uses the money she gets from them to buy additional food.
“I look after kids who are at least six months old,” she said.
Abongile added that she gives the parents certified copies of her ID.
“We just have to trust each other. If they have my ID they know me,” she said.
A 26-year-old mum said her boyfriend came over for the weekend and she didn’t want to have her four-year-old daughter around.
“I heard about Abongile from a friend, so I just brought my daughter for two days so that I can have undisturbed fun with my boyfriend,” she said.
