Whose child is it anyway?

Staff Writer | Friday December 5, 2014 13:39

To whom does a child belong, given the proliferation of single-parent headed households.

“Culturally, there used to be a myth that children belong to their mother while fathers give their children material needs,” he said.

“It was always been seen as a woman’s responsibility but a man has the right to take responsibility for a child’s upbringing as much as a woman does.”

Legwale said even though there is no law under which men may retrieve their children and care for them, the Children’s Act of 2009 states that no parent is the preferred parent.

He added that some men tend to neglect children born out of wedlock who are pejoratively referred to as “illegitimate”.

“The Act points out that custody of a child is made in the best interest of the child.

“Every parent must have access to their child either married or not. The law gives every parent the right to take part in bringing up his or her children, whether they are ‘legitimate or not’.

“Gone are the days when ‘illegitimate’ children were thrown out,” he said.

Legwale emphasised that men have the right to the children that they have brought into the world regardless of the circumstances of their lives or of how they had those children.

According to Legwale, one of the factors hindering men from taking care of their children is doubts around paternity.

“Doubting that a child is yours is one thing that leaves a gap between you and your children. I don’t know why you should neglect your children because you think that the child might not be yours. “No matter what your thoughts may be, take care of those children because someone else somewhere could be taking care of your child.