The Daveyton SAPS together with various stakeholders held a men’s dialogue (khuluma ndoda) on December 3 at the station.
However, only a few men showed up.
Representatives from different organisations also attended, such as the Men’s Forum, Daveyton Pastors Police Forum, Etuka Legal Resource and Development Centre and the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca).
Spokesperson Sgt Constance Moalusi said this dialogue was aimed at ensuring that the partnership consolidates a response by men and boys to take a stand against, amongst other things, rape, femicide and GBV, while strengthening families.
“We urge community members, especially men to come out and talk about these issues so we can find solutions and work together to put a stop to women and children abuse,” said Moalusi.
Etuka Legal Resource and Development Centre representative Percyval Leberegane said it is very important for men to fight moral decadence because children no longer respect their elders.
“Majority of boys don’t have father figures, so we need to have an integrated approach to this, let’s not always talk about the girl child all the time but also the boy child,” said Leberegane.
ALSO READ:
Crystal Park SAPS kicks off 16 days of activism
“Why don’t we bring boys and girls together to have these dialogues about issues that affect them?”
Leberegane added that men are also abused but they don’t come forward, instead they bottle up their issues.
Daveyton CPF chairperson Ramoitheki Madikgetla said as the CPF they see the violence in the community, as they are the ones who interact with the residents.
“People must take responsibility and report abuse, whether you are a neighbour or family member,” he said.
“We need foot soldiers and we need to teach young men to respect women.”
Madikgetla said that people should not point fingers at the government but rather work together.
The chairperson of the Men’s Forum, Godfrey Dzimba, also shared the same sentiments.
He urged men to stop making excuses and speak out as everyone must live in harmony. He said if men don’t take a stand, there won’t be harmony in communities.
The station will continue to host awareness campaigns until the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign on December 10.
ALSO READ:
Word on the street: How valuable do you think the 16 days of Activism campaign is and why?
