There have been several television shows addressing the issue. In 2015, Mzansi Magic launched Utatakho, centered on bringing resolution and understanding to the difficult topic of absent fathers.
The series explored the motivations, doubts, and hopes of the three most central persons in each episode – father, mother, and child, whether it was a father refusing to acknowledge his child; a mother wanting to prove her child’s father is the man she has named; or even an adult simply wanting to know who their dad is; Utatakho tried to help by facilitating a DNA test and delivering the final results with the help of a counseling psychologist.
Mzansi Magic also recently launched Ingane Yam, a show that tells the stories of parents who would like to meet their illegitimate children and introduce them to their families, hosted by Real Housewives of Durban star and entrepreneur LaConco Conco.
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Weighing in on the topic is veteran actor Jerry Mofokeng wa Makhetha who also struggled with issues of identity after finding out at 58 years old from a family elder that he has not been using his real surname all of his life.
Jerry took to social media to advise parents to be honest with their children about their identity as it may affect them in all aspects of their lives.
“Fathers and mothers of 'secret children' — a humble request to tell your children their paternity and identity. Do it responsibly and with good timing, but please do it. I've met too many people wounded/scarred from this secrecy and rejection. Countless angry men and women with daddy issues.”
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He advised parents to be transparent from an early stage.
“Allow me to plead that the rejection stops. It’s not your kids’ fault. You don’t have to be ashamed forever for your error of judgment and childish ways for the past. Please heal and restore that person. You can give an entire lineage their identity by revealing someone's father/paternity.”
In 2021, the Scandal! actor released a memoir titled I Am a Man (Lux Verbi). In one of the seven chapters, he shares his struggles with identity and talks of his mother’s guilt about keeping her child’s paternity a secret or telling that child’s own children where they come from.
If you want to determine whether you are biologically related to someone or not, you may go for a paternity test at the National Health Laboratory Service.
A paternity test analyses your blood group to determine whether you are biologically related to someone else.
Negative results prove that you are not related but positive results show only that you could be. An individual, a lawyer or a magistrate may apply for a paternity test.
Contact the National Health Laboratory Service on 011 489 9470.
