Absent fathers have become a global crisis — but in South Africa, the situation is especially alarming. According to the State of South African Fathers 2024 report, released in February 2025, only 35.5% of children in South Africa lived with their biological fathers in 2023. This means that 64.5% of children are growing up without their fathers in the same household.
Looking at the bigger picture, the report found that while 76% of children lived in homes with an adult male, only 35.6% of those men were their biological fathers. The remaining 40.4% were other adult males such as stepfathers, uncles, or grandfathers. Even more concerning, 24% of children lived in homes with no adult men at all.
In response to this ongoing crisis, Drum reports that a new reality show titled Eyamadoda is set to premiere in July. The show aims to shine a spotlight on the stepfathers and father figures who have taken responsibility in the absence of biological dads. Whether it’s through financial support, cultural traditions, or simply being emotionally present, these men are demanding conversations that have long been ignored.
Hosted by beloved actress Manaka Ranaka, the show promises not just emotional stories, but powerful confrontations and opportunities for healing. Manaka, who is a single mother herself, says the show is deeply personal.
“I’m a single mom and so I’ve had to deal with issues of absent fathers so it’s quite a personal one. I have three kids with two different men, there’s one that was completely absent, and he only showed up when his daughter passed. So, this one is a very personal one because not only do I go through it, but I also have a lot of friends who are raising their kids single-handedly,” Manaka tells Drum.
She explains that children affected by abandonment often suffer emotionally.
“The problem we have is not single moms raising kids, it is absent fathers not being present so I’m glad that this show is a man-to-man type of conversation where a man raising another man’s kids wants to approach the absent father.”
Manaka says she wants mothers to step back and let the fathers talk.
“All I’m saying to the ladies with this one is ‘let’s stand back and watch it unfold because we’ve tried our best and our trying means have been received as troublesome,” she adds.
With raw honesty, the show explores confrontations between men, truth-telling, and emotional healing — and Manaka ensures that every child’s voice is heard.
“I approach every single episode with respect until the guys involved start sounding like they’re playing games. We’re not here to shame anyone, already the situation makes him (absent father) look bad. We need to put the babies first. Some of them are so difficult to approach because they think that we’re there to collect papgeld (maintenance money). We’re not there for that.”
Still mourning the tragic loss of her daughter Katlego Manaka earlier this year — a child she raised alone for 24 years — Manaka admits she hasn’t begun her healing process yet.
“I’m not ready to speak about that. I haven’t even started my healing process because there are kids who still need me to help them heal.”
She offers heartfelt advice to other grieving mothers: “Every mother needs to be given space to deal with their loss in their own way. There’s no formula to this type of loss, the same way there’s no formula for being a mom. I just want to reiterate that just give parents who’ve lost children space. The constant questions make it harder for one to even begin the process of healing, it’s a lot.”
