The growing detachment of biological fathers from their children in South Africa has become a worrying factor as 64.5% of children do not live with their biological fathers. 

This was revealed by the recent State of South African Fathers (SOSAF) 2024 report, which found that more than half of these children are cared for by other men, with 76% living in household with an adult man. 

These are stepfathers and partners of their mothers, or in extended family households, relatives such as older brothers, grandfathers and uncles. 

Men outside the family can also serve as social fathers, stepping in to provide guidance and support. 

These may include teachers, pastors, coaches, or mentors involved in various community programmes.

“What can be disheartening when we explore the data in this report is that men are struggling, even in roles traditionally associated with being a man and father. Financial provision, long considered a father’s primary responsibility, is now an area where men are falling behind,” read the report.

This resulted in some men becoming uncertain about the meaning of manhood, as the meaning of what it means to be a man tends to shift in line with socioeconomic, political and cultural changes in society. 

The study noted that uncertain manhood and a lack of clear purpose among men are also linked to the rise of feminism, women’s empowerment policies and programs in various countries, as well as changes in worldwide and context-specific gender dynamics. 

At the systemic level, a set of problems crippling the people of South Africa are high levels of unemployment, debilitating poverty, and inequalities. 

“Each of these problems has far-reaching consequences on households as well as individual men, women, and children. For example, the levels of unemployment and poverty result in more men living on the streets, under bridges, and in abandoned buildings.”

The report added that while some men live with their families on the streets, others are likely to live alone or in groups with other men.

The study added that given the high rates of biological father absence in South Africa and the high levels of unemployment that often leave young people with ‘nothing’ to do, social fathers, mainly coaches, present an important resource for not only keeping children ‘off the streets’, but also providing emotional support, guidance, and mentoring.

The report also shared the story of the participants who assumed the role of father figure for children not biologically their own. 

They said this was due to strong cultural expectations and the absence of the children’s biological fathers.

The participants also reported feeling a deep sense of responsibility, driven by family and community expectations. 

They expressed that there was an expectation by the family and extended community that they took on the responsibility to care for the children around them, adding that stepping up to this expectation needed to happen, whether they chose the role of being a father or not. 

One of the participants, Zungi (50), exemplified this cultural obligation.

“I have a child that I have adopted as my daughter that we are responsible for. Her grandfather gave her to us – me and my wife – to take care of,” he said.

His words highlighted the importance of family obligations in African cultures and taking care of one’s family members. Zungi was taking on the responsibility of raising a child that was given to him and his wife by the child’s grandfather.

While motivated by cultural duty, the economic burden of taking care of others was a significant challenge. Many of the participants, such as Siya (38), had to financially support their families from a young age, often at the expense of their education and childhood. 

“We are five children altogether. My story of raising them started in early 2000 because my father passed away in 1998 and my mother was not working then. I had to work while I was still in school as my siblings looked to me for financial and emotional support,” he said.

SOSAF added that this is particularly notable among Black and Coloured households, whereas White households are predominantly of the nuclear type. This distinction in family configurations influences where and with whom children live, as well as who undertakes caregiving roles.

“Extended family settings offer support structures beyond the immediate nuclear family, highlighting the adaptability of caregiving roles in South African households,” read the report, which added that more children have lived with men who are not their biological fathers than children living with their fathers since 2010.

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

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