Abstract
In South Africa many misconceptions and ideas are present regarding Black Township men being physically and emotionally absent fathers. These ideas are brought about by the alarming statistics that show only 4.2% of children in South Africa live with their biological father only (without their mother), and 31.5% of children live with their mother and father. This would mean that only 35.7% (4.2% + 31.5%) of South African children live with their father in the same household. However, these results have not illustrated that some unmarried, non-resident fathers are largely involved in their children’s lives. Many research studies tend to look at fatherhood and father involvement through the lens of households and the nuclear family structure. This study drew from African scholars such as Oyeronke Oyewumi, Grace Khunou, Jimi Adesina and Bagele Chilisa to make arguments anchored within the decolonial indigenous perspective to understand fatherhood, father involvement and matrifocality. This study used a qualitative methodological approach to understand the experiences of fatherhood and father involvement for Black non-resident fathers fathering within matrifocal families in Kathorus, using life histories to collect their narratives. The findings of this study show that township fathers’ experiences are shaped by contextual issues, including legal, socio-economic, and socio-cultural factors. Father involvement is further shaped by challenges that fathers face while negotiating access to their children. However, despite their role being shaped by various contextual factors and challenges, they still continue viewing their fatherhood journey as rewarding, as an achievement. Their experiences show that fatherhood is a multidimensional role, as performed by non-resident, unmarried but involved fathers within matrifocal families in Kathorus.