SweepSouth, a South African-based domestic cleaning startup has launched a ZAR 12 million ($642,000) relief fund. It provided the relief fund for SweepStars (workers) to access essentials amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aisha Pandor and Alen Ribic founded SweepSouth in 2014 to provide on-demand home cleaning services across seven metropolia in South Africa. SweepSouth received ZAR6 million ($321,000) cash contribution from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, one of its investors.
“Like everyone else, domestic workers in South Africa rely on their income to put food on the table. But, of course, the cost of necessities such as electricity and other utilities all add up. Our research suggests that most domestic workers are single mothers and that many are primary breadwinners,” said the CEO, Aisha Pandor.
The fund was launched to ensure that workers are catered to during the national lockdown. SweepSouth will provide weekly financial support in the form of top-ups for workers. It aims to raise ZAR 12 million relief fund that will last workers for three months. According to Aisha, the financial difficulties will extend far beyond the 21-day lockdown, so it is important to mitigate the effect for as much as possible.
Source: Tech Gist Africa
