Indeed, fathers deserve time with their kids

Parliament’s extension of parental benefits for fathers should be welcomed. The newly adopted amendments to labour laws affirm the need for fathers to play a bigger role in the lives of their children and families.

This is an important development in the context of a society beleaguered by father absenteeism in families. There are even television shows dedicated to assisting children identify and get acquainted with their estranged fathers.

The phenomenon of absent fathers is part of the legacy of the migrant labour system which was the order of the day during colonialism and apartheid, which continues till today.

Many men would leave their homes and villages in search of opportunities in cities to work in the mines, factories and in the residential areas set aside for whites.

They would be away from their families for months and sometimes years on end. Given the unnatural situation of having to leave their loved ones and source of support behind, it was not uncommon for those men to start new families in the townships where they were relegated to.

Migrants continue to be a feature in the country’s labour system with more devastating results such as the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The migrant labour system disrupted and very nearly destroyed African families. It distorted family life and has created the perception that black people are innately predisposed to having dysfunctional families.

Being the conservative nation that we are, the prevailing notion even among white cultures is that raising children is the concern of women. Fathers are thought of as secondary and only important as far as they can provide materially for their children.

But in a country where joblessness is endemic, many men are unable even to live up to that expectation. In fact, seeing their role as only that of paying maintenance contributes to the emasculation of men causing them to be further alienated.

The private members bill brought by the ACDP on extending paternity leave and supported by other parties bodes well to change perceptions about the role and importance of fathers in the raising of their children.