As the autumn chill settles over South Africa, a different kind of warmth takes centre stage. This Sunday, 10 May, the nation pauses to honour the women who serve as our emotional North Star—our mothers, grandmothers and maternal figures.
The love of a mother is far more than a simple emotion; it is a profound, unconditional and nurturing bond that serves as a child’s ultimate safe harbour. Often characterised by a selfless and enduring protection, this connection forms the very bedrock of a child’s identity. It is within this quiet sanctuary that the seeds of empathy and self-esteem are first planted, providing the essential nutrients for healthy psychological development and emotional resilience.
However, this unconditional devotion is rarely without a price. It is a path paved with decades of quiet sacrifices—from the exhaustion of sleepless nights and the surrender of personal time to the secondary positioning of career ambitions and physical comfort. Mothers are the world’s greatest silent protectors, often masking their own financial or emotional burdens to ensure their children’s skies remain clear.
South Africans have witnessed these sacrifices made by our mothers and mother figures as we grew up, noting the work they put in to forge us into the people we are today. On Mother’s Day, we recognise and honour this effort, expressing love, gratitude and kindness to mothers, acknowledging their hard work and celebrating their vital role in families and society. It is a time for pampering and showing appreciation for mothers through gifts, flowers and family gatherings.
Faiha, aged three, and Akhirah, aged five, are ready to celebrate their mother, Aakifah Nabi, 29, this Mother’s Day.
Aakifah said: “Being a mother, you are never just you anymore; you become the keeper of small things, you’re the safe place, it’s both losing and finding yourself. To me, being a mother is less about the title and more about the role you live every day. It means being a steady presence in someone’s life while they are still figuring out who they are.
You’re part guide, part protector and part teacher. Motherhood also carries a lot of unseen work. It’s the mental load, the emotional attunement, the small sacrifices that don’t get acknowledged but shape a child’s world in lasting ways.”
