“To be in your children’s memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.” — Barbara Johnson
On Saturday, 15 November 2025, USAPHO had the privilege and honour of joining hands with Heartlines Fathers Matter for the Cape Town launch of their newest movie, ‘Playing Dad’. Further partnering with LIV Cape Town, this ECD provided the perfect venue, setting the scene for a memorable day of play in the ever-expanding community of Fisantekraal.
Father’s from various other organizations, ECD’s, and the community were invited to not only view the 7th instalment of Heartlines Father’s Matter riveting and relatable series, but, in a safe space to share their feelings and experiences of being a dad in South Africa in 2025, and the sometimes unrealistic expectations placed upon and ingrained through (toxic) masculinity, archaic generational beliefs, and harmful cultural practices. The notion of playing with your child is a concept so foreign to many, who base their current attitudes and justifications on how they were parented, often with the reasoning that they “turned out fine”, and that the role of the father is to provide and protect.
Yet others still could see the value, importance and joy shared during play, and could recall instances when they were younger, when all that they yearned for and lacked was time with their fathers and feeling that they are loved and matter.
‘Playing Dad’ reflected feelings that are real and relevant to every man in the room, and provided the opportunity for fathers from all walks of life to share these painful and joyous experiences, to realise that Fathers Matter, and together, to look towards creating memories where they are active, positive, and present.
