The Addams Family can’t live without Lurch and Helping Hand. Batman and Bruce Wayne can’t make it through the day without Alfred Pennyworth. All six kids from The Brady Bunch rely on Alice. And Flowstars would work in a pigsty if it wasn’t for Ntombininge Ngwenya, or Ntombi, as she is affectionately known.
Ntombi is responsible for the day-to-day cleaning and tidying at Flow’s offices in Johannesburg. She’s the lady who makes her way up the stairs with a broom in one hand and a bucket and soapy mop in the other. She’s cheerful, she’s a hard worker and she’s easy to talk to. But most of all, she’s a lady.
One of five sisters, Ntombininge (which means “many girls” in Zulu) grew up in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Life was tough back then,” she says, closing her eyes as she remembers. “My mother died when I was only eight years old, and then my father died too. I grew up as an orphan under my stepmom’s roof. Because I was the second-eldest daughter, I had to look after the younger ones, especially after my eldest sister died.”
Ntombi (“lady” in Zulu) left her past in KwaZulu-Natal and moved to Gauteng to start her own family with her partner, Max.
“In Gauteng I started to learn how to live for myself,” she says, smiling. “The rest of the family are still back home in Newcastle, but here I’ve built my own life.”
She has five children – four girls and one boy. Her son, Phila (which means “life” in Zulu), is studying HR at university and is 19 years old. Her eldest daughter, Nosipho (which means “gift”), is 14 years old and is in school with Nhlanhla (which means “fortunate”), aged 11, and Thando (which means “love”), aged seven. Her youngest child, Kwanele, attends pre-school at Wings of Hope crèche.
“My youngest child, her name Kwanele means ‘enough’ in Zulu,” says Ntombi, laughing.
A new life at Flow
Ntombi was employed at Flow just before the big move. This is her first full-time position after working various part-time jobs across town.
“I feel so much more secure now that I have a permanent job,” she says. “I’m very thankful to Sister Natalie from Wings of Hope, who trained me and helped me get this position.”
Sister Natalie put Ntombi in touch with Flow management after she had completed her training. After an interview with Bev Strimer and Sebe Seletisha, Flow offered Ntombi the position. She accepted (thankfully) and from day one has kept the Dunkeld office sparkling.
Khanyi Shabalala, Flow’s receptionist and office-keeper, agrees: “Ntombi is a quiet and gentle lady who is very eager to clean up after messy Flowstars. She’s very easygoing, and if I ask her to help me with anything, she does it with a smile.”
John Kazembe, Flow’s maintenance man, remembers Ntombi from his days at Wings of Hope. “I used to work there as a part-time maintenance man,” he says. “I met Ntombi in 2010 when she began to bring her youngest girl to the crèche. As I’ve gotten to know her better, I’ve learnt that she has a great sense of humour and a very kind heart.
“She’s a quiet lady who just gets on with it,” he says.
A closet romantic
Despite a tough childhood, Ntombi is a soft-hearted woman with a love for old-school ballads by Kenny Rogers, Luther Vandross and Teddy Pendergrass.
“I love listening to romantic songs,” she reveals. “I like to cook and clean at home, too, and I enjoy keeping my house tidy. I’m a fan of 7de Laan and make sure I watch the Sunday omnibus.”
With a heart of gold and a kind smile for everyone, Flow is blessed to have this lovely lady as an employee.