MORE children in South Africa live with men who are not their biological fathers (40.3%) than those who live with their biological fathers (35.6%), in a trend that may continue into the future.
This is according to the State of South Africa’s Fathers 2024 (SOSAF 2024) report, offering a crucial data-driven look at the realities of fatherhood in South Africa.
The SOSAF 2024 report was compiled by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, Stellenbosch University, UCT and the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI). It was produced by Sonke Gender Justice and Sesame Workshop South Africa and published by the brand new Tataokhona Project at Stellenbosch University.
What is clear is that the traditional role of the father as the “family provider” has been fundamentally disrupted, yet this hasn’t resulted in concurrent changes in gendered social norms. In the State of the World’s Fathers survey 2023, from which the SOSAF report draws, a higher percentage of women (85.1%) than men (79.8%) in South Africa reported that they provided financial support to their biological children. Yet, many fathers are not taking up a greater share of caregiving roles as a balanced response to this economic reality.
In households where fathers are uninvolved or entirely absent, mothers often carry the dual burden of caregiving and financial provision, which in many cases, still strains the household resources and impacts children’s access to opportunities.
UCT co-editor of SOSAF 2024, Dr Mandisa Malinga said: “What stands out the most for me is the role that economic stability plays in determining men’s parenting and involvement in their children’s lives. Though most of the men whose voices are represented in the report express a desire to be a present father, their socio-economic status serves as a barrier. The prevalence of poverty and unemployment in the country has an impact, as does the gendered expectation of positioning women as the ones who must do the actual parenting work. This highlights the importance of shining a light on how fostering close, caregiving relationships with their children can enrich men’s lives and expand their identities as fathers, and as men.”
According to the report, never have so few children lived with their biological dads, nor have so many lived with other men like uncles, grandfathers, older brothers or mothers’ new partners. But this does not mean that these other men are stepping up as social fathers contributing to day-to-day childcare. This reality emphasises the growing need for social fathers - men who actively step in as caregivers, mentors, and role models, the authors said.
Dr Wessel van den Berg, Senior Advocacy Officer at Equimundo and co-editor of SOSAF 2024 said: “The most vital finding of SOSAF 2024 is the significant role of social fathers in the lives of children. This finding is crucial because it challenges the traditional notion of fatherhood being solely tied to biological connections and emphasises the importance of recognising and supporting the diverse forms of fatherhood that exist in South Africa. Understanding and acknowledging the role of social fathers can help in creating more inclusive policies and interventions that support all forms of fatherhood, ultimately benefiting the well-being of children and families.”
Studies indicate that children who grow up without father involvement in child care and support to mothers are more likely to experience economic hardship, poorer educational outcomes, and mental health challenges. The lack of a consistent father figure often leaves children without critical emotional support and guidance, increasing their vulnerability to risky behaviours and social isolation.
Dr Tawanda Makusha, co-editor and Senior Research Associate at AHRI said: “Recognising and supporting social fathers, who, other than family members may even be teachers or community mentors, can help ensure children have stable, positive male role models, even in the absence of biological fathers. Supportive, consistent and accountable social fathers present a model of masculinity that values emotional intelligence, caregiving, and responsible mentorship.
“The effort to help men transition into more engaged father figures, biological or social, requires interventions such as education programmes that teach boys and young men about caregiving, child development and emotional responsibility. It also includes community initiatives that support men in redefining their roles in ways that align with modern realities.”
Cape Times