🌍 Culture & inspiration · For all dads

🛠️ Shaping a dad's role: at home, at work, and in society

A father’s role is shaped through practical care and fair opportunities.

Practical habits that make a difference

1. What to prepare
Agree who handles appointments, night care and administration, then reassess the workload regularly.
2. What to check
Ask your employer about flexible work and leave without assuming a right to any particular arrangement. Support diverse families without judging cultural norms.
3. In South Africa
Do not present the old ten-day father-only entitlement as the complete current rule. The Constitutional Court’s 3 October 2025 Van Wyk judgment introduced an interim shared parental-leave framework, described officially as four months and ten days shared between parents. Agree allocation and notice with employers, taking account of birth-parent recovery protections. Ask the Department of Employment and Labour or a labour lawyer about the current order and any subsequent legislation. Leave entitlement does not guarantee equivalent UIF payment or employer salary.

A local detail, or your own experience with this guide? Write to the team