Central SA
New parental leave law pushes fathers to embrace caregiving─── REFILWE BEKANE 14:06 Mon, 06 Oct 2025
In a landmark judgment the Constitutional Court has ruled parental leave rights must be shared equally between all parents.
The judgment delivered on Friday (3/10) directly confronts the enduring reality of absentee biological fathers in South Africa by legally recognising men’s critical role in child rearing. This shift reflects a growing desire among men to be actively involved, said Sesame Workshop International South Africa education and gender manager Erica Jooste.
“We see there’s a huge generational shift that both biological and also social fathers really want to be involved.” Younger fathers wish to be seen as more than just material providers.
A challenge often raised by fathers is the perception of a CCC culture (cash, clothes, and cars) where they feel their physical access to children is conditional upon financial provision. This toxic narrative must be dismantled.
Legal recognition of social fathers
A significant aspect of the South African family structure is the prevalence of social fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and non-biological partners. Jooste said more children have social fathers than biological ones, although the current legislation does not yet fully extend the new leave provisions to biological caregivers in cases where the biological father is absent or unknown.
Crucially, the ruling legally compels men’s involvement in the economy of unpaid care, which benefits women by providing them with opportunities for self-actualisation and greater economic participation.
“This is just the beginning of a movement that both mother and father are on leave.”
More children have social fathers than biological ones. Photo: Freepik
Catalyst for gender equality
The team at Sesame Workshop International South Africa views this as a bold step toward true gender equality and recognition of diverse families.
“When fathers are empowered to care, women’s economic participation rises, children thrive, and society moves closer to equality,” said strategic communications consultant Jessica Gois.
While full details on the operationalisation of the new law, including mechanisms for resolving disputes over the leave split, are still pending, the Constitutional Court’s decision marks a pivotal moment in fostering a culture of shared caregiving and equality in South Africa.
“Let’s celebrate and support fathers, not just as breadwinners, but as loving, nurturing and equal partners in care.”
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