Posted in Features, News on Jun 17, 2018.
Bokang is Siphiwe Tshabalala’s wife. Together they have a son, the 3-year-old Owethu Temo. “I believe the role of father figures in the family environment and society is the most important role,” Bokang point outs. “Young boys need great father figures to learn from, by watching to see what it is to be a great man. So they can be inspired to aspire to be great men, fathers, husbands and role models while daughters need their fathers just as well.
“Being a daughter who was raised by a phenomenal father, my father is the first man I fell in love with. He was the first man to instill self-esteem in me and make me realise that I can do anything I put my mind to and that I was born to be great. I watched him as a great father and husband. That helped me in setting standards for the kind of man I wanted to marry, someone who was just as humble, honourable and dedicated to his children and wife.
“I am happy that I now get to celebrate two men on Father’s Day, Papa and my wonderful husband. Growing up, Father’s Day has always been a day in the year where you get to show appreciation to your father for being a great father, making him a card, buying him a shirt and so on. I also do this now as a way to show appreciation to Siphiwe for being the great and involved father he is.
“Siphiwe is the best father ever, people still can’t believe that he gave his son his first bath and changed his first nappy. He is involved in everything, taking him to school each day, coaching him at football, teaching him how to ride his bicycle and just those quiet moments where it’s just the two of them bonding... it’s beautiful watching him in his role as a father and it is the greatest blessing to have a man who loves his child this much and have a husband who is a true partner in parenthood in all forms.”
Daniel Cardoso and his long-term partner Micaella have a 10-month-old son, Keanu Antonio.