A local charity together with young men of Mamelodi has decided to tackle gender-based violence head-on.
Thandanani Centre social worker Ikageng Bahula said Mamelodi was one of the hotspots for GBV according to the latest crime stats.
She said they got together with local young men to unpack the causes of GBV and come up with solutions.
The session was held under #ConversationWithMen and #Notonmywatch at Rethabile community hall on Friday.
“Anger issues, alcohol abuse, insecurity, historical abuse in the families… and how boys are brought up are the main contributors to GBV,” said Bahula.
Bahula added that the young men also complained that the government was only focused on women abuse to the exclusion of the abuse of men by women.
“Government don’t take men seriously especially when reporting cases of abuse because they become a joke for police officers who are supposed to assist them,” she said.
Bahule added that suicide also came under the spotlight.
Attendee Tebogo Kgotsi encouraged men to break their silence on abuse.
He said he knew it wasn’t easy but “once you speak and to the right people it eases the pain and leads to solutions”.
“When you do not talk about your anger or insecurity in your relationship, you bottle it up and when it erupts you may end up beating your partner or committing suicide.
“Men must unite and start having more conversations and involve the youth,” said Kgotsi.
Bahula said that they needed to go to both primary and secondary schools to talk to boys and young men about GBV.
She said the next session on a date yet to be set, would also be on GBV but will be concentrating on women’s side of the story.
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