Manaka Ranaka to host new show Eyamadoda
Mzansi Wethu is set to shake things up this June with Eyamadoda, a bold new reality show that tackles the deeply rooted issue of absent fathers in South Africa.
Hosted by veteran actress Manaka Ranaka, the show brings together stepfathers and biological dads in emotionally charged conversations that are long overdue.
With only 35.5% of South African children living with their biological fathers in 2023, according to the State of South African Fathers 2024 report, Eyamadoda arrives as both a wake-up call and a healing platform.
The show highlights the men who have stepped into fatherhood, not just financially, but emotionally, culturally, and spiritually in the absence of biological dads.
“Kunzima kwa-blended family,” says Ranaka, capturing the emotional weight that comes with raising children in non-traditional households.
Manaka brings a deeply personal touch to the show.
As a single mother of three, she knows firsthand the emotional toll of father absence.
“I’m a single mom… there’s one that was completely absent, and he only showed up when his daughter passed. So, this one is a very personal one,” she tells Drum.
Her own grief, following the tragic loss of her daughter Katlego earlier this year, makes her approach each episode with empathy and honesty.
“I haven’t even started my healing process because there are kids who still need me to help them heal,” she adds.
Rather than shaming absentee fathers, Eyamadoda creates a space for accountability and healing.
“We’re not there to collect papgeld. We need to put the babies first,” Ranaka says, noting that many men become defensive simply because they assume financial demands are being made.
She stresses the need for mothers to step back and let fathers engage in difficult conversations with one another: “We’ve tried our best and our trying means have been received as troublesome.”
With 13 episodes lined up, Eyamadoda promises emotionally intense confrontations, heartfelt moments, and a real chance for families to heal.
Produced by Devandile Media, the series premieres this June on Mzansi Wethu (DStv Channel 163), offering a rare glimpse into the realities of fatherhood, both failed and fulfilled in South Africa.
Watch the trailer below:
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