• Tweet

Research by the South African Institute of Race Relations indicates that "the 'typical" child is raised by a mother in a single-parent household". The children have absent but living fathers.

Phindile Bhengu, who is unemployed, raises her 3-year-old daughter single-handedly.

"The father is not involved in any way. He left when I fell pregnant."

Lucy Holborn, family project manager at the institute, said: "Our research indicates that the lack of a stable family life contributes to some of the social problems.

"Problems such as youth unemployment, violent crime, teenage pregnancy and alcohol and drug abuse are facing many families."

The First Step's to Healing the South African Family states: "South Africa has a number of unique circumstances that affect the structure of families. They include its history of apartheid, and particularly the migrant labour system. The HIV-Aids pandemic has also affected the wellbeing of family members."

The institute says data indicates that the proportion of fathers who are absent and living increased between 1996 and 2009 from 42percent to 48percent. Over the same period the proportion of fathers who were present decreased from 49percent to 36percent.

A racial dimension was evident in trends of absent fathers. African children under 15 years had the lowest proportion of present fathers in 2009 at 30percent, compared to 53percent for coloured children, and 85percent for Indians, and 83percent for whites.

Only 35percent of children were living with both their biological parents in 2008. About 40percent were living with their mother only, and 2,8percent with their father only, which leaves 22,6percent of children who were living with neither of their biological parents.

In 2007 some 44percent of all urban parents were single. About 52percent of African urban parents were single, as were 30percent of coloured parents, 7percent of Indian parents, and 24percent of white parents.

Seventy-nine percent of African urban single parents were female, as were 84percent of coloured, 64percent of Indian, and 69percent of white such parents.

The research indicates that the majority of urban single parents were African, female and between the ages of 25 and 34 years. Unemployment rates among urban single parents were also high.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Mon May 20 16:03:02 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 5, 2011

Cylas

@Tebogo Monama

If you say "9 Million kids with no dads" are you counting yours too?
or may be you don't have one, you just trying to find out if your partner is worthed to have one with.

what a waist of time @ Sowetan fire this person. ASAP
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

Rams011

Precisely because of their mothers who take advantage of their dads instate of giving them advantage,few of the father material are irresponsible.
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

Memme

" Problems such as youth unemployment, violent crime, teenage pregnancy and alcohol and drug abuse are facing many families."
........................................................................................................

But some of us grew up without dads involved in our lives but we stayed out of trouble because we wanted to have a brighter future, YES it's true we all need both parents in our lives but we don't always get what we want out of life and we must accept and try to be the best that we can be and not turn to crime as an excuse.


Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

BlkMayb

hayi ke, bazokhula, nathi sidlule lapho!
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

tibza

guys this is serious because Tbo-touch just being included into this topic and i think we see celebrity doing it and we felt it is cool...but guys, you cannot stay with someone just because you have some attachment as long as you maintain your kid it is fine...
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

ericjhb

HIV Aids has wrecked many South African families. Thanks to ANC leaders like Mbeki and Manto who added to this mess with their denialism.
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

McKwembe

I dont believe this reports....@Memme...you are dammm right.
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

ericjhb

I not so sure about that figure, but we definitely heading to a million orphans with no parents at all. (Both mother and father dead)
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

Tumza

Ja sad, just sad... but nothing coz i was a victim as well.
Report Abuse

Apr 5, 2011

Tumza

Ja sad, just sad... but nothing new coz i was a victim as well.
Report Abuse

Read all 675 comments