Father's Day: 'Let us father not just our own children, but those who do not have'

A senior pastor from Centurion-based 3C Church has called on South African men to father “not just our own children, but the children of those who do not have”.

In the spirit of the local minibus taxi’s motto of “one more!”, Pastor Bert Pretorius said there is “always place for one more”.

As the country counts down to Father’s Day on Sunday, Pretorius issued a statement to the nation’s men.

“May the capacity of our hearts increase like that of a South African taxi – there is always place for one more! One more child, one more family, one more community, healing our homes, our daughters, our sons, and our nation. We can do it. Happy Father’s Day.”

Pretorius is the president of the South African Community of Faith-based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF), an organisation of faith-based organisations whose love for South Africa is “actioned” through various community-based initiatives and projects.

Pretorius said Father’s Day was meant to honour the “gift and calling of fatherhood”.

“It is a time when we give thanks for the men who lead, protect, nurture, and build strong families, which are the foundational building blocks of our society. Yet, in a country plagued by some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world, this day often exposes a painful truth: the absence, silence, and abdication of fathers is a national crisis where women and children are paying the price,” he said.

He highlighted the harsh statistics that 60% of South African children grow up without their biological fathers in the home.

“For many, the word ‘father’ does not evoke feelings of safety or love, but rather silence, absence, and abandonment. This vacuum comes with a heavy cost that is written on the faces of grieving mothers, broken sons, and traumatised daughters.”