Compulsory DNA testing would help address men’s mental health challenges, reduce the need for people to change surnames later in life, minimise gender-based violence arising from disputed paternity, give children a stronger sense of belonging, strengthen the bond between fathers and children where there is no uncertainty over parentage, uphold children’s human rights and preserve their connection to their ancestral identity by ensuring they are not raised under the wrong surname.
This is the view of men’s organisations, including Lisango Movement Team and Kwakha Indvodza, following last week’s parliamentary debate in which members of Parliament rejected a motion seeking compulsory DNA testing, citing concerns over constitutional rights, privacy, costs and the possible impact on families.
While Parliament did not support the motion, the organisations believe the debate has opened an important national conversation that should continue at community level.
They argue that discussions should go beyond whether testing should be compulsory and also consider how men who unknowingly raised children who were later found not to be biologically theirs could be assisted or compensated after suffering emotional and financial losses.
Visionary founder of Lisango Movement Team, Muzi Nxumalo, said the issue had recently been discussed extensively during one of the organisation’s monthly meetings, where members shared personal experiences and the emotional effects of disputed paternity.
The organisation has more than 120 members and meets once every month to discuss issues affecting men and families.
Nxumalo said many members were advocating for compulsory DNA testing because of the psychological impact experienced by men who only discovered years later that the children they had been raising were not biologically theirs.
“Some men have shared how they were left mentally broken after investing their love, time and resources in children they later discovered were not biologically theirs. These discussions should also include how such men can be compensated because the emotional and financial damage is real,” he said.
He said one member narrated how he accepted responsibility for a child despite the mother already having documents reflecting another man’s surname and details, while knowing that the man taking responsibility was not the biological father.
According to Nxumalo, the meeting also explored the different reactions men have after receiving DNA results, with some withdrawing emotionally while others struggled to cope with feelings of betrayal and loss.
He said such situations demonstrated why certainty from birth would help eliminate years of doubt, prevent emotional trauma and protect both parents and children from avoidable conflict.
Nxumalo added that compulsory testing would also assist children by ensuring they grew up knowing their biological identity from the beginning rather than discovering the truth much later in life when relationships had already been established.
Kwakha Indvodza Programmes Manager Gift Dlamini said discussions around DNA testing should be balanced and focus on strengthening families rather than creating conflict between men and women.
He said compulsory DNA testing at birth had the potential to remove uncertainty around paternity, strengthen trust within families and improve father-child relationships by eliminating doubt from the beginning.
“This is a sensitive issue affecting both mothers and fathers, and any discussion on DNA testing should focus on the best interests of children, fairness and family wellbeing while recognising that greater certainty may also support men’s mental health and reduce conflict that contributes to gender-based violence, depression and substance abuse,” he said.
Dlamini said boys and young men also carry the emotional burden of paternity disputes, making them important stakeholders in the discussion.
He said having certainty from birth could contribute towards healthier family relationships and stronger emotional bonds between fathers and their children.
According to Dlamini, ensuring children are correctly linked to their biological families would also strengthen their sense of identity and belonging while protecting their connection to family lineage and cultural heritage.
He said these were among the broader national conversations that should take place before the country reached any final position on compulsory DNA testing.
The renewed calls from the organisations come after Parliament last week rejected a motion seeking compulsory DNA testing for every child, with legislators arguing that such a law would infringe on constitutional rights, violate privacy, place an additional financial burden on government and potentially contribute to family breakdowns.
During the debate, some MPs maintained that DNA testing should remain voluntary and affordable for those who wished to access the service, while others argued that any policy should prioritise the rights and welfare of children.
Despite the motion being rejected, the men’s organisations believe the discussions should continue at national level, saying the issue extends beyond paternity disputes to include mental health, family stability, children’s identity and long-term social wellbeing.
They also believe broader public engagement would allow both men and women to contribute constructively towards finding solutions that balance individual rights with the interests of children and families.
