Why are people applauding Nandipha Magudumana’s father?

The onion in our lives as of late is almost everything to do with Thabo Bester. From the corrupt who aided in his escape, to the dependency of his girlfriend Dr Nandipha Magudumana, it then became about the traumas of Bester that have “shaped the life” that he has lived.

Now, this week, in light of her appearance alongside her father in the dock, the level for which we find ourselves parked at, is the topic of “a father’s love”.

Men have become so absent that when a father who is criminally charged alongside his daughter, reminds her to rise in court, this society claps for this “present and emotionally available father”. This has got to be a joke so bad, because there really is no way.

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Call it a privilege of having a father who was there, a father who frankly said, I will be there for you regardless, but I will respect the arm of the law. This is a father who gave me anxiety at the thought of accumulated speeding tickets.

I will never forget him receiving a call from a family member who requested financial assistance in a rape case against his son. My father’s words were: “I hope he is not guilty, but honestly, as a father to a girl, I would rather not get involved and allow the law to run its course.”

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Thankfully, my cousin was not found guilty. Point to my story: my father understood the impact of laws and the possibility of crossing them. He also understood that money can make problems sometimes disappear and he made it clear that his money would never be party to this disappearing act.

And now, in this world where fathers can either opt in or out of parenting, at their convenience, here we have a society applauding a fish for swimming.

Should a child be arrested, they should enjoy the support of their parent, but to be accused of being a co-conspirator with your parent, honestly it is just shameful.

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Why are people applauding this man? Are we applauding him for being there for his daughter even when they lead each other astray? He was there for her wedding, he is now caught in the middle of her relationship with her convict boyfriend – be there as a parent, but also be a voice of the adult in the mix.