On the 9th of October 2025, Mark du Preez, Head of Legal & Compliance at Africa HR Solutions, was invited on the BBC Africa “Focus on Africa” podcast to discuss parental leave across Africa.
The renewed interest in this aspect of local compliance follows South Africa’s landmark Constitutional Court decision. Through it, birth parents are offered shared parental leave – an unprecedented move across the continent, where mothers are typically entitled to much longer paid leave than fathers.
Drawing insights from our extensive report on Parental Leave in Africa, the conversation follows the trends shaping parental leave in Africa, examines cultural notions surrounding work and parenthood, and sheds light on the complexity of compliance across a continent as diverse as Africa.
Among other things, Mark du Preez shares that many of our multinational clients are providing their African talent with employee benefits over and above the statutory minimums. This includes more inclusive paternity leave policies as part of broader benefit harmonisation strategies across regions.
This shift supports engagement, equity, and workplace culture across Africa.
Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0m7p0bc