In many cases, fatherhood in South Africa has turned into a legal and emotional battle. Instead of providing stability and security, many men face restrictions, including supervised visits, refusal to issue birth certificates, and lengthy court proceedings.
Some advocate for recognizing fathers not only for their financial contribution but also for forming significant emotional bonds with children in early life. Activists and organizations, such as the African Transformation Movement (ATM), are calling on the Parliamentary Committee on Social Development to investigate the growing crisis related to denying fathers full contact with their children.
Nkululeko Sishi from KwaZulu-Natal shared his experience of a multi-year struggle for active involvement in his son's life during a custody dispute. He claimed that despite providing financial support from birth and attempts at co-parenting, he was gradually excluded from the child's life. Sishi reported that his time with his son was restricted to supervised visits, often conducted in a car near the home.
He also mentioned that he was barred from attending his father's grave opening ceremony, which led to an assault charge that he denies. After his arrest, he faced pressure to pay compensation, which he did. Nevertheless, the mother, according to him, refuses to add his name to the child's birth certificate and does not allow him to attend kindergarten, despite his offers to pay for tuition and transport.
Sishi approached the Family Law Advocate and Child Guardian Office in KwaMashu and is now pursuing the case in the Children's Court, insisting on the right of every child to have both parents actively involved in their life.
Imran Khan, who describes himself as a victim of parental alienation and is a member of Fathers for Justice SA and Parents Against Parental Alienation (PAPA), stated that he has been involved in numerous court cases regarding child contact for over two years. He currently has 15 cases pending before magistrate and high courts.
According to ATM, children are being deprived of the emotional, developmental, and financial benefits that come from the active participation of both parents. Khan calls for perjury and false accusations during custody disputes to be treated as criminal offenses.
However, not all cases involve conflict. Joel Samaru, who supports regular contact with children, welcomed the public discussion, emphasizing that he believes all parents should have access to their children.
Personal stories reflect a broader national picture. According to the SOSAF 2024 report, prepared by Equimundo, Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, and the African Institute of Health Research, in 2023, only 35.6% of South African children lived with their biological fathers. Nearly 64.5% of children lived without them.
The report also showed that 40.3% of children lived with another adult male (such as a stepfather, grandfather, or uncle), and approximately one in four children lived in households without an adult male. The 2025 household survey shows a similar trend: only 31.4% of children live with both parents, while 45.5% are raised solely by mothers, and 18.8% are without any parent.
The Institute for Family Studies in the US notes that South Africa is the only one out of 43 studied countries where less than half of children live with both biological parents. Researchers attribute this to unemployment, poverty, labor migration, historical apartheid segregation, and relationship breakdowns.
In Kenya, nearly half of children do not live with both biological parents. UNICEF data indicates that about 32% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa live with single mothers, with South Africa and Botswana being among the countries with the highest rates of such households.
Globally, the concept of parental alienation remains controversial. Proponents of fathers' rights argue that courts identify alienation too late, leading to unnecessary separation. However, researchers cited by the United Nations warn that allegations of alienation can be used to undermine mothers who express legitimate concerns about domestic violence or child abuse.
ATM positions itself as a defender of fathers who feel unfairly denied access to their children. Party leader Vuyolwethu Zungula stated that fathers' rights must be protected because the children's right to know and love both parents is key, and corruption in court proceedings must be investigated.
Although the Children's Act already provides for criminal liability for intentionally obstructing a parent's legal right to contact, fathers' organizations argue that compliance with this law remains inconsistent. Legal experts emphasize that alimony and parental contact are separate legal obligations.
Parents who believe they are being unlawfully prevented from seeing their children are advised to keep detailed records of missed visits and communication, approach the Family Law Advocate or a qualified mediator, and obtain a court-ordered parenting plan.
