Guest: Rumbi Chidoori Regional Advocacy and Policy Coordinator at sonke Gender Justice

South Africa could soon have a new gender-neutral parental leave policy. A case against the Minister of Employment and Labour recently heard at the Gauteng High Court recently, is seeking a gender-neutral parental policy that enables all employees to take parental leave regardless of their gender. 

Current laws entitle birthing parents to at least four consecutive months maternity leave - while fathers are entitled to 10 days of parental leave. 
Parental leave may also be applicable in circumstances where an employee legally adopts a child or when a child is placed by a court in the care of a prospective adoptive parent.