NO KIDS, NO REGRETS

A Johannesburg man tells YOU why he decided to get an irreversible vasectomy at the age of 29

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

FOR some men being called “Dad” is the greatest title in the world – but becoming a parent simply isn’t something this 29-year-old wants.

And Phethelo “Jag” Fakude is so sure of this he decided to have a vasectomy after months of careful consideration and plenty of research.

Jag, who is from Johannesburg, was so thrilled he’d taken control of his destiny he rushed online to tell the world about it.

“I’m 29. Unmarried. No children and no intention of ever having any. I’ve wanted this for years. It’s surreal,” he said on Twitter.

He expected his followers to react – but what he didn’t expect was for his tweet to trigger a national debate. Jag had barely pressed send when his social media feed blew up with South Africans slamming his decision to get the snip.

Some people couldn’t understand why he took such drastic measures to ensure he would never father a child, while others attacked his masculinity and cultural beliefs.

“At 29, you’re too young to think you don’t want babies,” one said. “Sadly, it is the end of a generation,” another added. “I know the ancestors are not happy.”

Jag says he’s received the harshest criticism from men but it doesn’t surprise him.

“A big part of this has just been men saying my masculinity and manhood have been forfeited,” he says.

“They aren’t willing to take steps to prevent having children because of patriarchal beliefs, but they don’t want to take on the duty of rearing a child.”