Resumo

FREEKS, Fazel. The problem of father absenteeism in South Africa:A possible solution according to Biblical guidelines. Tydskr. geesteswet. [online]. 2019, vol.59, n.4, pp.685-700. ISSN 2224-7912.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2224-7912/2019/v59n4a17.

In this paper a solution-orientated approach is proposed as a suggested contribution to help fight the social problem of father absenteeism in South Africa, since the issue of absent fathers is becoming a serious local problem. Increasingly, children are growing up without a father figure and as a result become vulnerable in society. Broken families and absent fathers are major causes and effects resulting in children's vulnerability - the state of exposure to the possibility of being harmed, self-harmed and contemplating suicidal thoughts. Examples of vulnerable children are those who do not receive the love and care of one or both parents, who may, therefore, struggle with basic skills such as how to handle emotions, trust and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, they may lack self-knowledge and engage in risky behaviour. The absence of a parent within a family system causes a vacuum in the parenthood role and has a negative influence on the ability of the family to function efficiently. The number of children living without their fathers has increased unabatedly during the almost two decades of democracy in South Africa. The absence of a father has been constructed as socially detrimental and a dilemma for most children in South Africa, as the lack of a father figure means the child has no positive male role model. Father absence not only has a severe impact on family life, but constitutes a social trend of widespread concern, akin to major diseases such as HIV/Aids. Research has shown that a dysfunctional family life is a major societal problem, with father absence and fatherlessness at the centre thereof. The following statistics reflect disturbing factors related to father absence in South Africa: 63% of suicides originate from fatherless homes; 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes; 80% of rapists motivated by displaced anger grew up in fatherless homes; 40% of all children in the country do not live with their biological fathers; 85% of children with behavioural problems come from homes where the father is absent; 90% of homeless children originate from fatherless homes; and 71% of children who do not finish school have absent fathers. Father absence is a tendency and world-wide phenomenon in many communities. Statistically, there is a tendency akin to a "fatherhood disease" globally and a rapid increase in single-parenting. Fathers' absence is the ultimate cause for the rising incidence of single mothers, vulnerable children and child-headed households in South Africa. Single-parent households have become the norm in South Africa where the "typical" child is raised by the mother only. The abovementioned problems are devastating to families, who may blame God for ills and misfortunes in their lives. Parents are a gift from God to children, but numerous children have been raised in families where fathers have been neglecting their responsibilities. The society in South Africa at present seemingly is unable to acknowledge the importance of fatherhood. However, father absence holds many negative consequences for families and communities, and many families experience a difficult family life because of it. Themes such as Biblical parenting, mentors and mentoring, Christian values, missional fatherhood, fatherhood from a Biblical perspective, the views of mothers and adolescents on the important role of the father within a family context were examined with regard to the problem of father absence. The findings arrived at in the context of these themes contributed towards a practical component, namely the Fatherhood Training and Equipping Programme "Dad become fully you", which was developed in 2011 to be utilised in the field of community engagement. The programme was compiled from my research and studies in collaboration with FAMSA (Families South Africa). The programme constituted one of the strengths and core responsibilities of the research because the main aim thereof was to train and equip fathers and to restore the indispensable role of the father within the family context. In 2015, the same programme with a different theme, "A life beyond iron bars", was started at the Potchefstroom Remand Detention Facility (Potchefstroom Correctional Services). The aim of the programme was to train and equip, motivate, inspire and empower fathers in prison, according to the following guideline in the White Paper on Corrections in South Africa, Chapter 3 (3.3.7): "… creation of an environment in which offenders are encouraged to discard negative and destructive values and replace them with positive and constructive values." The programme consists of seven themes: the concept of fathering; self-image; character; labelling; disappointments; the father as developer; and becoming fully you. From 2015 to 2018, approximately 150 inmates (fathers) were trained and equipped by means of the programme. In my opinion, the Fatherhood Training and Equipping Programme should strongly be considered for future research as a proposed solution to the problem of father absence in South Africa. Father absence constitutes a huge challenge in the South African context, and in order to address this challenge, Biblical guidelines are suggested for families who are confronted with this growing problem. The Biblical guidelines will serve as a supplement for and a new point of view compared to previous studies with regard to the problem of father absence. The implementation of Biblical guidelines towards the role of the father is essential for the family, and Biblical presentation of fatherhood should be the basis in dealing with issues such as father absence and what the role of the man in the home should be.

Palavras-chave : Biblical guidelines; families; father absence; father involvement; father presence; role.

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