Article
Family matters, and Merry Christmas!
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
IT’S that time of the year again – where families come together and have a nice time.
During this time of the year, I am always reminded of the importance of the family institution in our society.
The family institution is central, and is a foundation, to the socioeconomic advancement of societies. Economist Milton Friedman, one of the geniuses of the 20th century, who won a Nobel in economic sciences in the 70s, once said that we are not really an individual society, we are a family society. We come from families. How we behave in our societies is heavily influenced by the family institutions we are part of.
There was nothing unusual about Milton’s comments on the family institution. Any adult who understands how human society works is aware that the family institution is human nature.
During the December holidays, family members who have not seen each other for almost a year get to reconnect. It’s a time where people get some form of spiritual healing and shown love. And that can only be a healthy thing for our society.
Over the years, I have written about the importance of the family institution. My book Lessons from Past Heroes, available in all bookstores across South Africa, argues for stronger families in South Africa.
The economic benefits of stable families were studied decades ago.
Brookings Institution, a think tank, once found that “Work, marriage, education, and family size are all more powerful determinants of the incidence of poverty than the amount of cash assistance received from the government.”
A stronger family boosts the economic health of the household, especially if both parents, or more than one person, earns income.
Two incomes, or multiple incomes, are better than one. That is just simple logic.
Marriage, stronger families will cure many of our socioeconomic problems. I hope that this festive season we are reminded of that.
Children growing up in stable, two-parents-headed households are likely to do better in life, in contrast to children who don’t come from two-parents-headed households.
The state of families in South Africa is dire. Statistics South Africa, South Africa’s statistics government agency has written, “Did you know that in South Africa, about one-fifth (21,3%) of children aged 17 years and less, did not live with their parents? It may also surprise you to hear that this is against the international norm where the majority of children under 18 live with both their parents.”
South Africa’s fatherlessness rates are also sky-high, with more than 60% of children not growing up with their biological fathers. It’s a massive disaster.
What concerns me is that in South Africa’s political arena, not a single politician stands, fights, for the family institution. When you raise this family issue with some politicians, they’ll tell you that they do care about the family. That’s all you’ll hear from them.
Okay, but then why don’t they make the family institution central to their political agenda? Why do they promote welfare policies that destroy families? If they were serious about the family institution, they would have put it front and centre as it is the source of South Africa’s socioeconomic problems. They have not done that; instead, they talk about wealth redistribution. Wealth redistribution should not be our goal, strong families and wealth creation should be our goals.
The family institution matter is one matter that proves that South African politicians, in large part, are not interested in addressing the real needs of the poor; all they care about is clout. They’ll say anything for clout – which is unfortunate. We deserve better.
Merry Christmas! Have a wonderful time with your families. PM
Buy Phumlani’s book Lessons from Past Heroes here, and subscribe to his YouTube channel here.
© PHUMLANI M. MAJOZI