ANCHORED IN FAMILY: A STORY FROM THE MINISTER

• Family Structures Are Changing -Policies must adapt to new family realities like single-parent and multigenerational households.
• Social Challenges undermine families – Violence, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy are putting families under pressure.
• Collaboration Is Crucial -Government, civil society, and communities must work together to support families.

When Minister Nokuzola Gladys Sisisi Tolashe stepped up to the podium to speak on the International Day of Families, she didn’t begin with titles. She introduced herself by name and lineage—uMaNgwanya, uJola, uMphankomo, Jolinkomo… names passed down through generations.

“I do this,” she said, “because this is where I locate my identity. My family is my first anchor—before politics, before the public role.”

The occasion wasn’t just ceremonial. It was a deliberate gathering to re-centre families in the national conversation—not as an abstract ideal, but as real, evolving units that face real, sometimes challenging, circumstances.

Minister Tolashe reminded the audience that the family is not just a private concern; it’s a public issue. Her 2024 Budget Speech placed the family at the core of development, and this event continued that focus—marking a celebration and the relaunch of the Revised White Paper on Families.

Behind this policy work is a clear and urgent reality: families in South Africa are changing. The General Household Survey from 2023 confirmed this. Only about a third of children live with both parents. Nearly one in five children live with neither. Grandparents raising grandchildren now account for over 4% of households.

“The structure of families has shifted,” the Minister said. “And our policies must catch up.”

She acknowledged the progress made—housing programmes designed for family life, not for single occupants; free primary healthcare; and social grants that support not individuals but households. But she also confronted the challenges head-on:

Family life in South Africa is under pressure.

• Violence in homes is rising.
• Substance abuse is widespread.
• Teenage pregnancies have not only returned to high levels but have done so in a context where support systems are often failing.

More than 1,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 had abortions in the last year. Nearly 20,000 more aged 15–19. Many of these pregnancies are the result of exploitation, coercion, or simply an absence of guidance and support. Fathers disappear. Young girls drop out of school. The consequences ripple outward.

“This is not just about statistics,” she said. “It’s about what is happening behind closed doors in households across this country.”

This year’s focus, she explained, was not about launching yet another campaign in isolation. It was about coordination, integration, and collaboration—across government, civil society, and communities.

“We must stop working in silos,” she said. “We cannot afford to pull in different directions. The social cost is too high.”

She introduced the Family’s Matter Programme, one of eight behavioural change initiatives, including Men Championing Change, YOLO, Ke-Moja, and others. Each is targeted, and together, they aim to address the range of social issues eroding family life, from HIV and gender-based violence to drug abuse and poverty.

“Every household is dealing with something,” she said. “The Family’s Matter Programme is designed to meet families where they are.”

She was candid about the limitations of government action alone. Community voice and family leadership were essential. She acknowledged the many stakeholders in the room—government departments, NGOs, faith-based leaders, and traditional authorities—and reminded them that none could succeed alone.

Minister Tolashe closed with a personal reflection. Just days earlier, she had launched Child Protection Month in the Free State. The brutal case of Joslin Smith—a child sold by her own mother—had left her deeply disturbed.

“It’s a reminder that we cannot pretend everything is fine. We need honest conversations, real action, and shared responsibility. Families are where these battles are won or lost.”

She didn’t offer hollow optimism. Instead, she offered direction and invitation.

“We have the tools. We have the knowledge. What’s needed now is focus, follow-through, and willingness to work differently.”

She thanked the families present—calling them the day’s most important guests—and ended with this:

“We are not asking you to do it alone. But we are asking you to do it with us.”