Let’s be honest – South African moms have the persistence of a UN negotiator and the investigative skills of the Hawks. When they need to reach you, they will find a way: missed calls, voice notes, smoke signals, or the dreaded message in the family WhatsApp group that ends in “sent from my heart”.
But when your network is acting shady and your phone goes straight to voicemail… ag, shame. If you were on Cell C, it wouldn’t have gotten this far.
1. That time you ghosted the family braai… again
“She said 2 pm sharp.”
You arrived at 6 pm, with ice. No rolls. No explanation. Just vibes.
Your phone? On Do Not Disturb. Your messages? Blue ticks pending.
By 3 pm, your mom had already called you 7 times, voice-noted your best friend, and asked your cousin to send a “please call me.”
By 4 pm, she was printing missing posters.
If you were on Cell C, she wouldn’t have had to threaten to go full Carte Blanche on you.
2. When you ignored her call after payday
“Hi, my baby. Just checking in… also, can I borrow R300 till Friday?”
It’s the 1st. She’s been calling. Texting. Even sent a voice note that started off sweet and ended with “but don’t worry, I’ll eat pap and sorrow.”
You? You claim “bad signal.”
If you were on Cell C, she wouldn’t have had to post “Some children forget where they come from ” on her Facebook stories for all your aunties to see.
3. When she found that picture on Facebook
“Oh, so now you’re in Cape Town? In that outfit? With those friends?”
You said you were in Potch for a work seminar. Next thing, there’s a tagged photo: beach, cocktail, unbothered.
Her calls? Ignored. Her messages? Blue ticked.
She’s already praying with the church group.
If you were on Cell C, you would’ve had signal, and the chance to explain yourself. Not that it would’ve helped. But still.
4. When she needed you to send Uncle Themba airtime
“All he needs is R12. To send a voice note. That’s all.”
You’re the family’s emergency tech support and mobile wallet. But this time? Crickets.
Your mom tried calling. No luck. Eventually, she sent a 3-minute voice note to the family group titled: “When your own children forget you exist.”
If you were on Cell C, you’d have seen the message before she changed the Wi-Fi password out of spite.
5. When she just wanted to say she misses you
No favours. No drama. Just a mom, wanting to hear your voice.
Maybe to say “I love you.” Maybe to remind you to eat. Maybe just to ask if you’ve finally done your laundry.
But your network betrayed you. Again.
If you were on Cell C, you wouldn’t have missed that call, or the “I made your favourite, but never mind now ” follow-up.
Moral of the story? Nothing should stop you from being there for the woman who raised you – even your network.
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Featured Image: Supplied
