Cape Town - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Household help is affordable and available. People hire nannies and housekeepers and gardeners. The gardeners also generally wash your car. - Aug 2021
There is household help available but it can be challenging to find reliable help. - Apr 2021
Housekeeping and gardening are quite common. A good housekeeper can be found for around $550/mo for 5 days/week at current rates, which is far higher than many other jobs pay. Gardening is about 60% of that or so. I don't personally know anyone with a cook, but I suppose it happens. Many housekeepers can double as nannies. You can find someone via the grapevine or through several local reputable services. - Feb 2018
We have a housekeeper that comes twice a week, and I think it's fairly typical among embassy staff to have a housekeeper to come once or twice a week. Unemployment is high in South Africa and there are plenty of people looking for this kind of work; it can be a bit of a challenge linking the prospective employer with prospective employee. You may want to consider asking coworkers already in South Africa if they have housekeepers who are looking for extra days of work, or if they know people who are looking for work as housekeepers. I understand nannies are also available, but as we don't have children I can't speak to that as much. Most families also have a gardening service; in the gated communities, however, you may be limited to companies that have a contract with the community owners, and the quality/reliability can be lackluster. - Oct 2017
Readily available. Costs vary depending on your demands. The government imposed a wage structure that should be followed. - May 2014
Reasonable, but MUST be trained as to how you want things done. We have a full-time lady (7:30 to 4:30, Mon-Friday) and it costs US$400/month. I would suggest a recommendation from someone who is departing. - Aug 2013
Unemployment is high, so there is lots of domestic help available if you go that route. A housekeeper that works five days a week but does not live-in would cost around $400-$500 per month. - Oct 2007
