South Africa needs more positive male figures

Mapaballo Borotho

South Africa continues to grapple with deep-rooted socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inequality, and poverty.

These issues fuel the country’s high rates of violent crime and gender-based violence (GBV), particularly in communities where poverty reigns. In these areas, cycles of abuse and violence often emerge, where men hold power over women.

While gender-based violence and other violent behaviors by men have received increased attention, a quieter yet equally pressing crisis looms: the rising suicide rate among South African men.

As South Africa and the world observe Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, the spotlight turns to a deeply concerning reality: 80% of people who die by suicide in South Africa are men.

International statistics from 2022 report that out of 13 774 suicides, 10 861 were men. This staggering figure underscores the mental health crisis facing South African men – one that remains largely overlooked in public discourse.

Thando Malebe, Manager at boys’ mentorship programme The Character Company, spoke on Kaya 959’s Point of View on Monday, 10 June 2025.

He highlighted that a major contributing factor to this crisis is the absence of fathers and positive male role models in many South African households and communities.

“There’s a lack of fathers in our households and a lack of positive male figures in our communities. This means there’s a gap in the lives of our boy children, who grow up without the kind of men they need to look up to,” said Malebe.

Crucially, the programme has no exit age.

“We understand the impact of fatherlessness doesn’t end at 18. So, we don’t walk away when they grow older. We continue mentoring them with age-relevant guidance,” Malebe added.

The Character Company addresses this need by offering consistent mentorship to boys of various ages.

“We have men who step up and commit to mentoring small groups of boys. They follow a weekly curriculum that covers essential life topics,” he explained.

Programmes like The Character Company play a critical role in reshaping narratives around masculinity, mental health, and community responsibility, and may be part of the long-term solution to addressing the alarming suicide rates and broader social ills affecting South African men.

For the full conversation listen to the podcast.