Redefining fatherhood in SA: role of social fathers

IT’S A sad fact of South African life that so many fathers are missing in action.

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According to the recently released State of South Africa’s Fathers 2024 (SOSAF 2024) report, in 2023, only 35.6% of our children lived with their biological fathers. While this is a poor state for all children, it is particularly tough on boys who are growing up without male role models.

It’s exceptionally hard for boys to build a positive masculine identity in the absence of caring, committed and engaged men in their lives.

Fatherlessness

This state of fatherlessness leaves boys vulnerable to turning to macho gangstering in their communities and abusive online views as their guiding lights of what it means to be a man.

In a country like South Africa with its high rates of gender-based violence we can hardly afford this dire consequence of absent fathers.

Dr Wessel van den Berg, Senior Advocacy Officer at lquimindo and contributor to SOSAF 2024 said: “The most vital finding of SOSAF 2024 is the significant role of social fathers in the lives of children.”