Go behind the scenes with Jacaranda FM's Xola Ntshinga as he discusses the joys and challenges of raising daughters, his approach to Father's Day, and his favourite family spots in Joburg.
Welcome to The Fatherhood Files, your ultimate guide to fatherhood in Joburg! In celebration of Father's Day 2025, we're shining a light on the incredible dads who are navigating the adventures of raising kids in the City of Gold. From heartfelt lessons and invaluable advice to the best spots in the city, this is your go-to source for all things dad in Johannesburg. Get ready for inspiring stories, real talk, and plenty of laughs!
Kicking off our series, we sat down with beloved media personality Xola Ntshinga to get his refreshingly honest perspective on being a dad today. From navigating co-parenting to discovering Joburg's best spots, Xola offers inspiring insights into raising his daughters.
More than just a day: The meaning of Father's Day
For Xola, Father's Day holds a special significance as a divorced dad. "I celebrate Father's Day as much as I do Mother's Day," he shares, highlighting the shift in focus. Now, it's driven by his daughters, aged 9 and 13, who take the initiative to make him breakfast. "I don’t insist on things like gifts," he explains, "what’s important is spending time together. It’s a family day more than anything." He cherishes the "girl dad" moments, emphasising that the birth of each child brought profound, distinct changes, teaching him that each individual needs a unique approach.
Instilling values and navigating unique personalities
In an age dominated by social media, Xola prioritises teaching his girls fundamental values. "It’s very important that they remain respectful," he states, admitting a traditionalist streak. Manners like "thank you" and "please" are non-negotiable. His ultimate goal? To impart the importance of being "good people." He acknowledges the ongoing challenge, but his constant lesson is to reflect on how others make you feel and apply that empathy in return. Recognising his daughters' completely different personalities has been a key learning curve, ensuring he adapts his parenting style for each.
From road warrior to weekend dad: Balancing career and home
Balancing a demanding media career with being a present dad has been a journey of "reframing." Xola vividly recalls missing crucial firsts due to constant travel in his previous sports broadcasting role. "Now that I’ve left the television world behind and moved to radio, I’ve got my weekends back, and I am quite determined to spend my weekends being together as a family," he shares. His co-parenting arrangement and an "open-door policy" with his girls, even between meetings, ensure constant connection. Intentionality, he insists, is key to making time.
The soundtrack to fatherhood and a little advice
Xola's "soundtrack of fatherhood" includes Luther Vandross's Dance with My Father, for its poignant connection to his own dad and his girls, as well as Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams, which reflects the unique, often uncharted path of parenting. His final piece of advice for dads? "Let them tell you the uncomfortable stuff, and the key is not to overreact."
When it comes to family fun in Johannesburg, Xola is all about exploring. He reminisces about the time spent at James and Ethel Gray Park. "Even if we played at home, the kids always insisted on going to the park. While there, they would always nag me for a dog. So, we spent a lot of time there when we lived in Illovo. But after moving to a bigger house and getting a dog, we started exploring more."
Xola says they do a lot of parent-kid restaurants. The Clay Café in Lanseria is one of their favourites. "I’ve got a huge box at home that’s filled with all the stuff they've made over the years. What's cool is that I can go back and see how they’ve developed and gotten more creative with time."
More recently, they've embraced off-the-beaten-track destinations outside the City. "In the last few months, we've visited Ashers Farm Sanctuary in Pretoria East, a farm with rescued animals and a small restaurant. My daughters got their hands dirty on the visit, volunteering to clean the cages and stuff like that, and they enjoyed it, so I signed them up with another animal sanctuary."
Xola believes that time to recharge on your own is important as a dad. "When I feel like stretching my legs and getting out of the city, I love visiting the Blackhorse Brewery in Magaliesberg."
Closer to home, the Wanderers Club is Xola's favourite spot to unwind with friends. "I love Wandies, and it’s also just one of those places where you know everyone and they know you, and the barman knows what to get you."
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