ERMELO – Men from across Mpumalanga were urged to confront trauma, rethink masculinity and play an active role in building safer communities during the Mpumalanga Provincial Men Indaba earlier in September.

The gathering, held at the Gert Sibande District Municipality Mayor’s Parlour, brought together 150 men from the province’s three districts, including representatives of youth formations, traditional structures, faith-based organisations, men with disabilities and community development structures.

Held under the theme ‘Building Responsible Men and Boys for a Safer, Healthier and Prosperous Mpumalanga Province’, the indaba focused on challenges affecting men and boys and practical interventions that could create positive change.

Bonginkosi Dlalisa, chief director of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC), called on men to engage in introspection and challenged the belief that ‘a man does not cry’.

He said unresolved trauma could contribute to men using dominance to gain respect.

“This has left us with a massive GBVF crisis, leaving our mothers, daughters, sisters living in fear,” Dlalisa said.

He also called for mentorship programmes and izimbizos to help boys develop healthier understandings of masculinity.

“True strength is not measured by who you push down, but who you can pick up.”

The indaba was convened by the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development in partnership with the Men’s Sector in the province.

Read more about Dlalisa’s message on trauma, the influences shaping boys and his call for mentorship programmes in the Highvelder’s printed edition.