'Playing Dad' a film redefining fatherhood through play
Vincent Mahlape, Eric Mogale, Siyamthanda Nxumalo and Neo Ntlatleng who star in "Playing Dads". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines
Image: Supplied/Heartlines
In many societies, fatherhood is often narrowly defined as providing financial support and enforcing discipline. For some men, the idea of playing with their children feels foreign, or even daunting, as play is typically seen as the mother's domain.
"Playing Dad", however a new film by the social behavior change NPO Heartlines, challenges this limited view by highlighting the crucial role of fathers in their children's early learning and development.
The film shows how active, engaged play not only benefits young minds but also strengthens the father-child bond.
'Can I be playful with my child and still earn his respect?' This is the central question faced by Vincent Mahlape's character, Mpendulo, in "Playing Dad".
Neo Ntlatleng, Vincent Mahlape and Siyamthanda Nxumalo who star in "Playing Dad". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines
Image: Supplied/Heartlines
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It's a dilemma familiar to many fathers raised to believe that their main purpose is to provide and discipline not to connect or nurture.
Through Mpendulo, a strict, traditional carpenter, the film gently plants the idea that fathers can and should, embrace play as part of their parenting journey. When his wife is called away unexpectedly for a family emergency, Mpendulo is left to care for their young son, Ndumiso (played by 6-year-old Siyamthanda Nxumalo).
What begins as a reluctant duty soon becomes an eye-opening experience that challenges everything he thought he knew about being a father.
The story also unpacks deeper societal issues that discourage men from fully engaging with their children. In South Africa, the shadow of gender-based violence (GBV) has created an atmosphere of suspicion around men's involvement with young children.
When Mpendulo is called to address a crisis at Ndumiso's early childhood development (ECD) centre, he realises just how unwelcome fathers can feel in spaces designed for young kids, an exclusion that reflects broader cultural attitudes.
"Playing Dad" seeks to shift these perceptions. It encourages fathers to take a more active, playful role in their children's lives and calls on ECD centres to make space for dads in their programmes. At its core, the film promotes a vision of fatherhood that is nurturing, hands-on, and essential to a child's healthy development.
'Five years ago, we published research showing that one of the biggest barriers to fathers' involvement is simply a lack of parenting skills,' says Lereko Mfono, Fathers Matter Project Coordinator and a 'playing dad' himself.
'Because of deeply ingrained societal expectations, many men don't know how to be positive, practical, and emotionally present fathers.'
Both research and real-life stories affirm that when fathers or positive male role models are actively involved in a child's upbringing, the risks of boys becoming perpetrators and girls becoming victims of violence, including GBV, are significantly reduced.
Yet harmful stereotypes continue to shame or sideline men who want to engage fully with their children, especially during the critical years of early childhood. Playing Dad challenges these norms, offering a hopeful message: that fatherhood can and should include joy, play, and presence.
The cast of "Playing Dad" also includes Luyanda Mzazi, Neo Ntlatleng, Dimakatso Lebeoana and Pheello Sehlolo.
The film (the seventh in the Fathers Matter anthology) will launch on the Fathers Matter website and the HeartlinesZA YouTube channel on Friday, June 13, ahead of Father's Day on June 15.
IOL Entertainment
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The short film 'Playing Dad' was officially released on Heartlines' YouTube channel on Friday, just in time for Father's Day. The newly released film Playing Dad was inspired by the needs identified by the Fathers Matter project research and community engagement, says project coordinator Lereko Mfono. 'Many men want to be involved in the lives of their children but don't always know how and worry they might lose respect by leaning into constructive playtime,' Mfono said. ALSO READ: Father's Day: A guide to buying dad a gift that has meaning Obstacles for fathers Father Matters, an initiative of Heartlines, the Centre for Values Promotion, is a campaign that harnesses the power of storytelling to support the positive and active role of fathers and men in the lives of children. The report by Fathers Matter highlighted an essential barrier to dads' engagement with their children – the lack of parenting skills. The State of South Africa's Fathers 2024 report and Heartlines' Fathers Matter research found that more than 60% of children are growing up without their biological father in the home. However, many are raised by father figures, including uncles, grandfathers, older brothers, or male role models in the community. The research found that four common factors driving father absence were economic pressure, harmful cultural norms, rigid gender roles and the lack of support and parenting knowledge. 'Due to many factors, including societal perceptions of the role of fatherhood, there is a lack of knowledge of how to be a positive, engaging, practical father,' Mfono said. ALSO READ: 'Heartlines' series returns nearly 20 years after sparking national conversation with 8 key values [VIDEO] Playing Dad film Playing Dad was officially released on Heartlines' YouTube page on Friday, just in time for Father's Day. It is a story about a father navigating the complexities of fatherhood. In the short film, leading actor Vincent Mahlape plays the character of Mpendulo, a carpenter who suddenly finds himself in charge of his young son, Ndumiso. As Mpendulo fumbles his way through snack times and storybooks, he discovers that play isn't just for kids, it's the glue that binds fathers and sons. In 2006, Heartlines launched a campaign called '8 weeks, eight values-one national conversation' through eight television dramas broadcast on SABC. Mahlape says, like many South Africans, he grew up watching those impactful stories. 'I grew up watching Heartlines films – we all did,' he says. 'I particularly remember Hopeville.' Playing Dad was Mahlape's first time playing opposite a child on set and he says it's been a highlight for him. He is a father to a nine-year-old son and shares that he learnt a lot from the character of Mpendulo and about what fathering means through the eyes of a child. 'It's not about just providing for your child's needs. A simple body adjustment – like going down to a child's level – makes so much of a difference in how they receive your message when you speak to them,' he says 'Being a father is more than having a baby. The little stuff means a lot more to a child than you ever think. Like playing – it looks small, but it means a lot. It helps them open up to you, and it teaches you about yourself.' NOW READ: Ofentse Tsipa: The 'global mama' on being a South African on Kenya's The Mommy Club
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'Playing Dad' a film redefining fatherhood through play
Vincent Mahlape, Eric Mogale, Siyamthanda Nxumalo and Neo Ntlatleng who star in "Playing Dads". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines Image: Supplied/Heartlines In many societies, fatherhood is often narrowly defined as providing financial support and enforcing discipline. For some men, the idea of playing with their children feels foreign, or even daunting, as play is typically seen as the mother's domain. "Playing Dad", however a new film by the social behavior change NPO Heartlines, challenges this limited view by highlighting the crucial role of fathers in their children's early learning and development. The film shows how active, engaged play not only benefits young minds but also strengthens the father-child bond. 'Can I be playful with my child and still earn his respect?' This is the central question faced by Vincent Mahlape's character, Mpendulo, in "Playing Dad". Neo Ntlatleng, Vincent Mahlape and Siyamthanda Nxumalo who star in "Playing Dad". Picture: Supplied/Heartlines Image: Supplied/Heartlines Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading It's a dilemma familiar to many fathers raised to believe that their main purpose is to provide and discipline not to connect or nurture. Through Mpendulo, a strict, traditional carpenter, the film gently plants the idea that fathers can and should, embrace play as part of their parenting journey. When his wife is called away unexpectedly for a family emergency, Mpendulo is left to care for their young son, Ndumiso (played by 6-year-old Siyamthanda Nxumalo). What begins as a reluctant duty soon becomes an eye-opening experience that challenges everything he thought he knew about being a father. The story also unpacks deeper societal issues that discourage men from fully engaging with their children. In South Africa, the shadow of gender-based violence (GBV) has created an atmosphere of suspicion around men's involvement with young children. When Mpendulo is called to address a crisis at Ndumiso's early childhood development (ECD) centre, he realises just how unwelcome fathers can feel in spaces designed for young kids, an exclusion that reflects broader cultural attitudes. "Playing Dad" seeks to shift these perceptions. It encourages fathers to take a more active, playful role in their children's lives and calls on ECD centres to make space for dads in their programmes. At its core, the film promotes a vision of fatherhood that is nurturing, hands-on, and essential to a child's healthy development. 'Five years ago, we published research showing that one of the biggest barriers to fathers' involvement is simply a lack of parenting skills,' says Lereko Mfono, Fathers Matter Project Coordinator and a 'playing dad' himself. 'Because of deeply ingrained societal expectations, many men don't know how to be positive, practical, and emotionally present fathers.' Both research and real-life stories affirm that when fathers or positive male role models are actively involved in a child's upbringing, the risks of boys becoming perpetrators and girls becoming victims of violence, including GBV, are significantly reduced. Yet harmful stereotypes continue to shame or sideline men who want to engage fully with their children, especially during the critical years of early childhood. Playing Dad challenges these norms, offering a hopeful message: that fatherhood can and should include joy, play, and presence. The cast of "Playing Dad" also includes Luyanda Mzazi, Neo Ntlatleng, Dimakatso Lebeoana and Pheello Sehlolo. The film (the seventh in the Fathers Matter anthology) will launch on the Fathers Matter website and the HeartlinesZA YouTube channel on Friday, June 13, ahead of Father's Day on June 15. IOL Entertainment
