'Al will replace men taking parental leave'

'What are we creating here? A nanny state?

- By Mpho Sibanyoni

(Gallo Images)

A prominent economist has slammed the Constitutional Court judgment that allows men four months of parental leave after their spouse has given birth.

Mandla Maleka was speaking after a landmark ruling by the highest court that all parents, regardless of gender or circumstances, are now entitled to equal parental leave of four months.

This decision, delivered by Justice Zukisa Tshiqi at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg, addresses the disparity in leave entitlements between mothers and fathers.

Previously, South African law granted mothers four months of maternity leave and fathers only 10 days of paternity leave, a situation deemed discriminatory by the Gauteng High Court in 2023.

Maleka told Sunday World that the judgment delivered on Friday may be democratically and constitutionally correct, but was not economically sound.

"What are we trying to create here? A nanny state that says men must be accorded similar rights to women?"