It’s too common in South Africa to find that most children are brought up in homes without their biological fathers. Heartlines, through Fathers Matter intends to highlight the importance of a father figure in a child life.

“Fathers Matter is a new campaign that uses the power of story to support the positive and active role of fathers or men in the lives of children”. Fathers Matter manifests itself as a series of six films, each set in different backgrounds in South Africa. “Each short film is a compelling drama that explores the complexities of fatherhood and the relationships people have with their fathers in South Africa today, where most children grow up in homes without their biological fathers”.

Heartline through these Fathers Matter films aims to firstly, “create awareness and start conversations about why a father should be positively involved in his child’s life – no matter how old they are”. Secondly,  to “create a supportive environment and share resources that organizations and people can use to promote positive fatherhood. To have a better understanding of the situation at hand as well as clarify the intervention, Heartlines in 2019, “instituted a research process consisting of focus groups, in-depth interviews and a literature review”. Read the full report here.

The first film coming from the Father’s Matter series is titled “Family Portrait” starring Ebenhaezer Dibakwane as “Ayize”. “Ayize is a struggling artist who becomes a new father when his girlfriend Nomvula has a baby. He is devoted to both her and their baby girl, Zenzile. But he must prove to his rather terrifying and tough mother-in-law Cecelia that he is good enough to be a good dad, even though he can’t provide financially. Can he gain Cecelia’s trust and support even though he doesn’t have a steady job?”

The films star actors such as Lorcia Cooper-Kumalo, Aubrey Mmakola, Jacques Blignaut, Sello Matloung, Ebenhaezer Dibakwane, Thandy Matlaila, Bradley Olivier and Tshepo Maseko, and are directed by Twiggy Matiwana, Rea Rangaka, Zamo Mkhwanazi, Eric Mogale, Tim Greene and Zane Meas.

Father’s Matter – “Family Portrait” premiers: Saturday 17 September @ 20:30 on SABC 2 / TelkomONE

Languages: Sesotho, isiZulu (English subtitles)

Director: Twiggy Matiwana

Cast: Ebenhaezer Dibakwane (Ayize), Lebohang Mthunzi (Nomvula), Pascaline Phale (Cecelia), John Ncamane (Thebe) and Sello Motloung (Bra Vusi).