Premier Sihle Zikalala made a clarion call on men to be at the forefront in speaking out and reporting gender-based violence during the launch of the Men’s Month campaign in Durban.
As part of launching the month-long campaign, Premier Zikalala participated in a march which started at King Dinuzulu Park and ended at the Durban City Hall and was joined by Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Hlengiwe Mavimbela, Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and eThekwini Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda.
They were carrying placards bearing messages that encourage men to speak out against abuse and for men to take a stand against violence. Other dignitaries that participated in the march included the KZN Provincial Men’s Forum Bishop Bhekimpi Mchunu, Inkosi Felix Bhengu representing the KZN Provincial House of Traditional and Koi-San Leaders as well as men in uniform mainly those in the South African Police Service.
Delivering the keynote address, Zikalala said that Men’s Month coincides with Nelson Mandela Month and men can learn a great deal from the leadership of the international Human Rights icon, Nelson Mandela.
“During Men’s Month, we are enjoined not only to celebrate South African men, but also to pay attention to the number of challenges that confront them. On this day, we salute and commend the majority of men in our province who lead by example. Today we honour the many men who despite their circumstances and challenges, stay away from crime. We pay our respects to the men who are constantly challenging and changing themselves. These are the good men who are forsaking old patriarchal teachings that privilege men at the expense of women. These are men who are bringing boys and girls in relations of equality and mutual respect. They are the men who are helping our nation give birth to Generation Equality. They are giving birth to the new KwaZulu-Natal man who embraces peace, human rights, and dialogue to resolve problems, not violence or intimidation,” he said.
Zikalala said that the Provincial Government commends the many men who are actively fighting against the despicable scourge of violence perpetrated against women and children.
He said: “It is the good and honourable men who are enemies of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide who are the eternal hope that our country will ultimately eradicate all forms of violence that women continue to face. We regard the good men of our province and country as critical stakeholders in our national effort to prevent and end the crisis of GBV. We look to them to play their role in supporting victims of GBV, and to ensure that wrongdoers face the full might of the law. To prevent or stop violence directed at women, we have to eradicate the culture of violence which is rooted in our society.”
He also reiterated that through the Department of Social Development, the Provincial Government will continue to offer psycho-social support and safe spaces to support victims of GBV, adding that gender inequality is at the core of the violence directed at women.
“Our programme of Radical Economic Transformation will continue to support women-owned enterprises and job creation targeting women. We are determined to ensure that at least 50% of Operation Vula funding goes to support women-owned businesses. The KZN RASET programme and government set-asides targeting women are already bearing fruit in empowering women economically and bringing them to the mainstream of the economy. Our traditional leaders also have a big role to play in eliminating the practice of ukuthwala”.
Throughout Men’s Month and beyond, the provincial government will host ongoing programmes and dialogues aimed at tackling mental health issues, including depression and other social ills that affect men in the home, at work and society at large.
