UThukela District Municipality in conjunction with the Social Development Department, local municipalities, SAPS and other relevant stakeholders recently held an event at Agra Hall in Ladysmith.
The aim of the event was to revitalise men’s structures and form a men’s dialogue to share information on how to equip men to be better and do away with gender-based violence (GBV). The event was held under the theme “Why men are angry”.
The event was attended by the Manager in the Office of the Mayor, OS Mnguni; Dr N Dlamini from Social Development; Provincial Chairperson of Men’s Sector, Lee Mazibuko; District Chairperson of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS), Simon Gumede; Manager Special Programmes, BD Mkhize, and Provincial Secretary Men’s Sector, Mkhonto Blose.
Mnguni welcomed everyone who attended the event on behalf of the Mayor. He also emphasised the importance of this kind of gathering as men, and also pleaded with men to stop being the perpetrators of GBV. “Men must not force themselves on a woman no matter what the situation is, instead it is time to stand together and have a plan of action as men to fight against this pandemic,” he said.
Mazibuko delivered his keynote address and informed the house that the men’s sector was launched in 2009 in the uThukela District. He said the aim was to groom young men to be future role models and teach them to be mature, responsible and to be accountable for their own actions. Mazibuko emphasised that men must respect themselves so they can be respected in their households and in their communities.
“There is still lots of work to be done to balance men mentally. Poverty is the most contributing factor to GBV, and for that reason, it is important to go back and establish street campaigns to restore men’s dignity,” said Mazibuko.
Guest speaker, Dr Dlamini, gave an overall report of the first dialogue they had with men. Its statistics show that 90% of children have absent fathers which makes a huge impact on broken families and that alone results in poor mental health and anger in men that could lead to GBV. It also mentions that in KwaZulu-Natal, every six hours there is a woman killed by their partner through domestic violence. The report also states that most frustrated men are over 35 years of age and unemployed.
Some men are misbehaving because of their background and can’t handle pressure, while others are abused mentally and physically by their partners and are ashamed of coming forward and eventually resort to violence. Dr Dlamini then advised that uThukela District men’s structures must be active and empower men.
“Traditional leaders must also be involved so they can bring culture to the fore in order to break this circle of poverty, unemployment and inequality in our societies.”
