As a young boy growing up during the apartheid years in South Africa, Mhlangabezi rarely saw his father, who worked in the city to support the family. When his father passed away, life got even harder, and Mhlangabezi had to give up his dream of tertiary education. While he finds glimpses of happiness, he wonders today if the sun will ever come out and give light to his hopes for the future.
Key points to consider in viewing Mhlangabezi’s story
Mhlangabezi’s story shows how apartheid in the past, and poverty both then and now, affect families and individuals. By talking about how his father couldn’t get a good job or an education, he shows that the problem of “absent fathers” is bigger than one man’s choices. Histories of racism and economic exploitation make it very hard for men to support their families. We urge you to think about the circumstances that forced Mhlangabezi’s father to be away from his family and to reflect on how historical legacies continue to affect South Africans.
