Fathers of our nation are absent from children’s lives

The South African economy is at odds with a healthy family life for fathers who have little education and prospects.

This is according to the State of South Africa's Fathers 2024 report, which offers a crucial data-driven look at the realities of fatherhood in the country.

The report — compiled by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town and the Africa Health Research Institute — shows the poor financial status of many South Africans has played a role in forcing families apart, with fathers having to move away to seek employment.

According to data contained in the report, in 2023 only 35.6% of South African children lived with their biological fathers in the same household, and 40.3% lived with men who were not their biological fathers.

“A major concern from society is focused on the physical absence of fathers from children’s lives. The role of social fathers — father figures, mentors, coaches, teachers, men of religion — who step in to support children is receiving slow but increasing interest,” researchers state.

They used data from the latest General Household Survey 2023 to understand the state of fathers, children and families.

The economy, which remains colonial and extractive, forces men from low-income classes mainly to separate from their families in contrast to men from the middle and elite classes.

—  Report

Only 3.3% lived with their biological fathers and not mothers, while 44.8% lived with their biological mothers and not fathers.

“It is very important to emphasise that while the physical presence of biological fathers in the same household as their children may be important, living together in the same household on its own is never a sufficient condition for a healthy father-child relationship.”

The researchers believe it may help, but something else is required.

“That something else is what can be called ‘being there’. A warm, caring presence is the foundation of a healthy father-child relationship.”

The data also shows children's living arrangements with both their biological parents differ across provinces. With around one in every two children (51.9%), the Western Cape had the highest proportion of children co-residing with both biological parents.

Gauteng was the province with the second-highest percentage (43.3%) of children living with both biological parents.

In contrast, the Eastern Cape (19.1%), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (20%), are the two worst-affected provinces when it comes to children’s co-residency with both biological parents.

“Between 1996 and 2023 there has been a nine percentage point decrease in children living with their biological fathers. This represents a 20% decrease in the proportion of children living with their biological fathers.

“At the same time, there has been an eight percentage point increase in children living with adult males who are not their biological fathers, which represents a 25% increase in the proportion of children living with adult males who are not their biological fathers.”

The report found while the proportion of children living with their biological fathers has been steadily decreasing since 1996, the proportion of children living with adult men who are not their biological father has been increasing steadily.

“These facts suggest the prevailing fatherhood narrative is not keeping with reality. The emphasis on the presence or absence of the biological father omits most children’s lived experiences.”

Researchers therefore believe “the nature of the South African economy is at odds with healthy family life for the men who have little education and prospects”.

“The economy, which remains colonial and extractive, forces men from low-income classes mainly to separate from their families in contrast to men from the middle and elite classes.

“Ironically it is when employment opportunities increase that men are likely to go away to provide for their families and, therefore, deprive their families of their consistent presence.”

“What we see when we focus on biological fathers is not a picture of wall-to-wall caring masculinity. We are left with the question of why are biological fathers not in the picture at similar rates to biological mothers?”

The researchers believe part of the answer is found in South Africa’s history. They have noted fatherhood in South Africa continues to bear the marks of the colonial and apartheid pasts.

“African and coloured family life, and fatherhood in particular, was deliberately interrupted. Fathers’ involvement in domestic life was restricted through oppressive laws, predatory capitalism, the migrant labour system and its male migrant hostels.

“It is no exaggeration to state that colonialism and apartheid created absent fathers among black men.”

They say the past of disrupted families “are far from being fully repaired”.

“But, even though all of that painful historical experience is a fact, we have to contend with our individual lives, communities, and as a society; we must learn more about how to help men today to care for their biological offspring as well as other children who need social fathers.”

The report also highlights the need to shift from a focus on and the prioritisation of biological fatherhood, towards understanding and acknowledging the roles other adult males play in children’s lives.

The report also delved into the physical presences versus emotional engagement of biological fathers.

“The physical presence of a father in the household on its own does not translate to a warm, caring relationship with his offspring. Emotional engagement is key.”

The researchers believe children benefit most from fathers who are actively involved, supportive, and care, illustrating that co-residence without engagement may offer little advantage.

“Fatherhood is about much more than living together because some co-resident fathers may be uninvolved in care, or can even be sources of harm, and some non-resident fathers may provide care over a distance. The fact that a child does not live with their biological father does not mean the child does not receive fathering.”

The report say involved fathers are crucial not only for the immediate family unit but also for society at large.