Hlomla Dandala lashes out over ‘bad dad’ claims

The South African actor, best known for his role as Jacob Makhubu in Jacob’s Cross, was reacting to a Sunday World article about his ex-wife Candy Litchfield taking him to court over unpaid maintenance. The newspaper claimed Dandala was seven months behind.

Dandala, a father of five who has created a blog dedicated to the topic of raising his children, wasted no time taking to twitter to deny the ‘bad dad’ claims, venting his frustration:

Bad mouth me to the tabloids all u like. Mine is for me & my kids. #KidsRNotATMs Kudala ndithule

— H (@HlomlaDandala) March 15, 2014

@SundayWorldZA Easy to take sides when u hvnt done a single bit of investigation. Instead u spout lies u think ppl wanna hear. Grow up!

— H (@HlomlaDandala) March 15, 2014

There r many fathers fighting against all odds to b present-dads. Despite all that they r called names etc #KidsAreNotATMs #ZiphandeleEyakho

— H (@HlomlaDandala) March 15, 2014

I abhor absent father-ism. I refuse to b associated wt that kind of behaviour, however good ur punch line – using my name – was gonna b.

— H (@HlomlaDandala) March 15, 2014

Dandala has a blog about raising his five children, which he explains he created because “I do believe that if there’s going to be such strong disapproval of men who are absent, it would be remiss to not take time to celebrate those fathers who are present.”

In a post last year he described his pain and unhappiness about receiving the summons.

“It sits like an elephant in the bedroom. A finger of accusation saying what I have been contributing is regarded as not enough. Each time my eye lands on it, a vial of toxic bile drips from my throat onto my heart and threatens to choke me in a sea of rage.

Before I continue, let me rattle off some facts. I vowed to myself that whatever happens between me and the mothers has nothing to do with my responsibilities to my children. I have no love for men who don’t take care of their children; financially or otherwise. It’s cowardly and dead-beat behaviour. But equally; I have no love for mothers who will use money, especially child-maintenance, as the battleground for venting their hurt. The courts will decide the rest.”