Famsa engages Alex’s youth on GBV issues
President of the Members and Citizens Movement Sibusiso Sibeko asks: Are you part of the problem or are you part of the solution?
The youth of Alex joined Family South Africa (Famsa) and other stakeholders as they discuss issues related to gender-based violence and crime in the township on July 1.
According to Kgomotso Motaung, a social worker at Famsa, this opportunity was created after careful consideration, especially seeing as Alex is rated top in crime and gender-based violence (GBV). “GBV is a worldwide problem, so much that it has been classified as a global pandemic and it is noted that we cannot deal with the violence without addressing the inequalities in gender, which is why we are having this dialogue,” Motaung said.
Project manager at Isibani Sabantu Foundation Siphelele Dlamini said, “We have identified issues and cases experienced by men and also, according to Stats South Africa, about 80% of people who commit suicide are men so now we are trying to get solutions and get men to speak up and break the gender norms.”
Dlamini addressed issues men encounter and never speak about because there ‘aren’t as many campaigns supporting abused men or men in general’. He said this should be the start – men should be helped to ‘pour out any kind of abuse they are dealing with so they do not become abusive as a result of being abused or think of killing themselves’.
President of the Members and Citizens Movement Sibusiso Sibeko advised both men and women to do better and contribute in making sure that crime and gender-based violence in the community are eradicated.
He also urged people to start engaging with forums that deal with gender-based violence, referring to Masiphephe Network. “I want every one of you to do an introspection and ask yourselves this question: Are you part of the problem or are you part of the solution?” Sibeko concluded.
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