WATCH: Young voices rise in Ekurhuleni honour the boy child
Young boys from Ekurhuleni gathered to address the issues they face in society.
The CoE marked International Day of the Boy Child by launching the inaugural Boy Child Sector Parliament at the Alberton Council Chambers on May 16.
The event brought together boys from various Ekurhuleni high schools to discuss their challenges and envision a better tomorrow.
Welcoming the participants, Speaker Nthabiseng Tshivhenga set the tone with a message of hope and responsibility, “Every boy child is destined to be a responsible father, brother, leader of the community and protector of dignity.”
In partnership with the Gauteng Legislature and the Department of Social Development, the Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, explained more about the Boy Sector Parliament.
“The Boy Sector Parliament is a safe space for young boys who can’t speak up and should speak up. This is when you should speak up, share your ideas, ask questions and be heard. Today, you get to sit in these special seats, not just for fun, but because your thoughts and voices matter. We are doing this because we care about your future and want to see you grow into kind and responsible young men,” she said.
Social Development MEC Faith Nonhlanhla Mazibuko emphasised that they have celebrated this day since 2018 because they recognised that the boy child needed to be taken care of; he does matter.
“We, as a society, are not only to support, but also to praise and acknowledge that boy children exist,” she said.
She added that boys face many challenges in their daily lives, such as violence, drugs, gangsterism and bullying.
She encouraged the boys to prioritise education to escape these issues and be careful when touching girls their age.
“If you don’t prioritise education, you will be nothing in this life. You might end up joining those mongrels who carry junk in our community or those involved in crime. You should also not do things that make young girls uncomfortable,” she expressed.
One learner emphasised that most children are dealing with peer pressure, which can lead to GBV.
“Peer pressure can play a significant role in GBV. People pressuring others into doing things they don’t want to do can lead to GBV. Bullying also contributes to GBV, leading others to bully and believe it is the right thing to do.
@albertonrecordThe CoE marked International Day of the Boy Child by launching the inaugural Boy Child Sector Parliament at the Alberton Council Chambers on May 16. The event brought together boys from various Ekurhuleni high schools to discuss their challenges and envision a better tomorrow.
“Parental influence also plays a role. Some children bully others with the mentality that, since their parent works in the government, they can do as they please without consequences. Additionally, the police sometimes do not take cases seriously. Some police officers tell men who report cases of a violation by women to ‘man up’ and ‘pull up their socks’. This often causes these men to return home and commit GBV, which can lead to femicide,” she said.
The boys debated visions of influence, how they play a role in society and how they can avoid negative influences in the future.
