Making a pittance as a school cleaner and living on a prayer

She looks anxiously at her wristwatch before she begins to speak. That anxious check was to ensure she would have enough time to foot it back to her job, where she earns a meagre salary, but performs with commitment even during difficult days.

She is 55 years old and employed as a sweeper/cleaner at one of the city’s secondary schools; a job she has done for the past 16 years.