Non-profit Sonke Gender Justice said on Monday that South Africa's new paid maternity leave law for parents was a vital step in ensuring the care of infants was shared by both primary caregivers. 

As of January 1, parents are entitled to 10 days paid parental leave when their children are born. The new law covers fathers and mothers of children born through surrogacy and offers leave for adoptive parents. The legislation does not apply to mothers who have given birth, who are already entitled to maternity leave. 

"Parental leave for fathers creates a valuable opportunity for fathers to do unpaid care work and to bond with their children. When men get more involved in child care work, children benefit by receiving more care," said the organisation. 

"Sonke is pleased that the consistent advocacy work by various groups and individuals from civil society like Cosatu and Mr Hendri Terreblanche has yielded this progressive legislation.

"We are especially pleased that the language now applies to all parents of all sexual orientations and gender identities since the text does not refer to mothers or fathers but to ‘parents’. Same-sex couples with children now qualify for parental and or adoption leave."

While it welcomed the law, Sonke said 10 days of paternal leave did not afford fathers the opportunity to be "as deeply involved" in care work as mothers. 

"The 2018 State of South Africa’s Fathers report published by Sonke Gender Justice and the Human Sciences Research Council, highlights the importance of policy support for fathers’ involvement in young children’s lives, especially during the first two years. This involvement can establish an emotional bond between father and child for life," said the organisation. 

It added that research from countries that offered paternity leave supported the "intuitive idea" that an emotional connection during infancy would lead to long-term involvement in care, leading fathers to take more responsibility for the development of their children. 

"Sonke Gender Justice and the MenCare Global Fatherhood campaign has set the ambitious goal that men will do 50% of the care work globally. For this, one vital step is equal, paid and non-transferable parental leave for both parents, and we continue to advocate for this."