Johannesburg – Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe has challenged South Africans to play a part in ensuring that homes around the country become the safest places for the most vulnerable in society.
“Gender-based violence happens within the confines of the home. We should get the entire criminal justice system, from investigators to the courts, to buy in and understand that … any offence that happens in the home must be treated as very serious in order to create a safe environment for kids,” said Motlanthe.
Speaking on Tuesday during the National Men’s Dialogue on Gender-Based Violence in Newtown, Motlanthe noted that the abuse of liquor was not an excuse for incidents of gender-based violence.
“Men folk believe that if you take liquor, it encourages you to become frank and so you can do things you don’t normally do as a shy person. You do that [looking for] an excuse, but you are aware that this is wrong,” Motlanthe said.
Held under the theme ‘Not in my name’, the dialogue was organised by the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) Men’s Sector, Brothers for Life and the Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
It is the first activity in a year-long SANAC Men’s Sector programme of action to curb violence and promote health.
It is aimed at bringing together prominent and ordinary South African men from all walks of life including business, labour, political leadership, sports, and other sectors to unite as one voice in calling for the end in violence against women, children and men.
The dialogue will be taken to the provinces, where conversations with men will be held to explore what needs to be done to turn the situation around.
Chairperson of SANAC Men’s Sector and Bothers for Life ambassador, Reverend Bafana Khumalo, challenged men who are silent on abuse to speak out.
“Five out of six men are not abusive but more often they stand aside. We want to urge all men to play a role in transforming not by retaliating. It’s not a solution. We need level-headed interaction to help change the behaviour.
“We must provide proposals on what we think needs to be done by creating a platform to talk and seek interaction to help stop the scourge,” said Khumalo, who was quick to point out that the gravitas of the situation required the dialogue to be more than a “talk shop”.
Deputy Minister of Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, commended the initiative, saying the ministry could claim little success without unequivocal buy-in from men.
“It requires the power of men. We need to make sure that we empower women that will go back and empower men that will be supportive. It’s important for us to walk this road with men to minimise the confrontation.
“When a woman or a child is raped … the … men [must stand up and] say ‘Not in our name’,” said Bogopane-Zulu.
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi stressed the need to start creating a new generation of men who are caring. He said the ferocity of the violence witnessed in instances of abuse was alarming.
Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros welcomed the dialogue, saying it was the “tip of the iceberg”.
“A forum of this nature is the right platform to deal with the problem. We will be taking part in the endeavour to take this campaign [around] the province.”
Sticking with the theme of the day, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) President Sdumo Dlamini said the discussion should also strongly involve the youth as they were a necessary part of the solution.
Young entrepreneur Mpho Matee said there was a need to look at the concept of positive role models.
“We need to go back to the community and look at how we mentor young men,” said Matee.
Men shared various recommendations to help end the scourge, including educating boys. They also signed a declaration pledging not to look away but to speak out and act against gender-based violence. – SAnews.gov.za
