Beyond the deadbeat and absent father phenomenon are some fathers who want to contribute effectively and be present in their children's lives.

In a global landscape marked by the prevalence of 'deadbeat or absent' fathers, South Africa emerges with a staggering statistic -- almost half of the nation's children experience daily life without their fathers. While Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) does not use the terminology 'absent father', their studies have rather looked into the living arrangements of children: whether they live with both parents; live with only the father; live with only the mother and live with neither parent. According to Census 2022 results, a recent study shows a much larger percentage of children lived only with their mothers (44.1%) than with their fathers (3.7%).

The prevailing narrative often oversimplifies this as voluntary absence, yet the truth reveals a more intricate reality. Compounded by the deficiencies in South African family law, which historically leans towards mothers in custody disputes, this issue reaches a critical juncture. Despite the Children's Act of 2005 stressing the paramount importance of a child's best interests, biases may persist, hindering fathers' rightful access to their children. A profound and urgent exploration of the South African fatherhood crisis unfolds in this complex tapestry of familial dynamics and legal intricacies.

Fathers whose partners have died

In the aftermath...