Manaka Ranaka To Host New Show ‘Eyamadoda’ on Mzansi Wethu: “Being a Parent Is Not a Piece Job”

• Manaka Ranaka will host a new reality show titled Eyamadoda, premiering on Thursday, 31 July 2025, on Mzansi Wethu
• Manaka Ranaka will help stepfathers confront absent fathers and explore fatherhood in modern South Africa
• Netizens questioned Manaka Ranaka's suitability as a host and argued why someone would've made a better host
• Briefly News spoke to relationship expert Paula Quinsee, who shared the psychological effects of parental rejection

Veteran actress Manaka Ranaka is taking the fight to absent fathers in her new gig. Manaka Ranaka has landed a new gig as the host of a new show that is set to premiere on Mzansi Wethu.

Absent fathers are a growing pandemic in South Africa, with 2023 statistics showing that four out of every 10 children were found to not live with their biological fathers in South Africa, while one in every four children lives in homes without any adult men present. Given this glaring reality, actress Manaka Ranaka has stepped in with the new show Eyamadoda.

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Manaka Ranaka hosts new show tackling deadbeat dads

Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela shared a teaser trailer of Manaka Ranaka’s new show on X. According to Mphela, the new show Eyamadoda will premiere on DStv channel Mzansi Wethu on Thursday, 31 July 2025. The post was captioned:

“NEW SHOW: Eyamadoda. The show, hosted by Manaka Ranaka, explores what it means to be a man in today’s world, including confronting absent fathers. Airs 18h30 on Thursdays from 31 July on Mzansi Wethu.”

According to DStv, Eyamadoda has 13 episodes. The series is produced by Devandile Media.

In the teaser trailer, Manaka Ranaka shared an important message about parenthood. The new show will help stepfathers confront absent fathers.

“Being a parent is not a piece job it’s a forever thing. In the brand-new reality show, we sit down with concerned stepfathers. We discuss absent fathers,” Manaka Ranaka said.

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Watch the teaser trailer below:

Netizens react to Manaka Ranaka's new show Eyamadoda

In the comments section, several netizens questioned Manaka Ranaka's suitability as host for the show. Others raised questions regarding the show’s aim.

Here are some of the comments:

@black_guider argued:

“Another show to further tarnish the image and role of the black men of this country 😕”

@IamJayeMelo said:

“Same script, different cast. 🥱🥱🥱”

@JAMA_NM asked:

“Will the episodes include stories from the suburbs, such as Waterfall, Kyalami, Midrand, and Eye of Africa, or will the focus be solely on townships and villages?”

@abutibusiness argued:

“I love her so much. I just wish they had given her a different show. Such matters need men. An iron sharpens another iron. I wish she got more shows that are aligned with topics that she will shine and do well on.”

@crazythatoo said:

“I hope it’s a real show, with real stories - they are not acting because this absent father’s issue needs to be addressed.”

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Briefly News spoke to relationship expert Paula Quinsee, who shared the psychological effects of parental rejection.

Paula Quinsee shared that some individuals who were rejected by their parents may overcompensate in their adult relationships, which can be detrimental to their emotional and mental well-being.

"Some individuals may overcompensate by becoming overly focused on achieving perfection to earn the love and approval they lacked in childhood. This can result in people-pleasing behaviour or a desire to prove themselves to others, ultimately leaving them feeling emotionally drained and unfulfilled," Paula Quinsee said.

Manaka Ranaka exposes her baby daddy

Meanwhile, Manaka Ranaka has experience dealing with an absent father.

Briefly News reported that Manaka Ranaka exposed the father of her first daughter, Katlego Ranaka, when she passed away in January 2025.

During the mourning period, Manaka Ranaka revealed that her baby daddy, Sipho Lekaba, was completely absent. The former Stokvel star added that her baby daddy only showed up when his daughter passed away this past January.

Source: Briefly News