Men encouraged to speak out against abuse

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has encouraged men to speak out against abuse and for them to take a stand against gender-based violence (GBV)

Zikalala said during Men’s Month, they are enjoined not only to celebrate South African men, but also to pay attention to the number of challenges that confront them.

He was speaking at a march in Durban which was also the launch of a month-long campaign for Men’s Month.

The Premier said Men’s Month coincides with Nelson Mandela Month and men can learn a great deal from the leadership of the international Human Rights icon, Nelson Mandela.

“We salute and commend the majority of men in our province who lead by example. We honour the many men who despite their circumstances and challenges, stay away from crime. We pay our respects to the men who are constantly challenging and changing themselves. These are the good men who are forsaking old patriarchal teachings that privilege men at the expense of women. These are men who are bringing boys and girls in relations of equality and mutual respect. They are the men who are helping our nation give birth to Generation Equality. They are giving birth to the new KwaZulu-Natal man who embraces peace, human rights, and dialogue to resolve problems, not violence or intimidation,” said Zikalala.

He added that the provincial government commends the many men who are actively fighting against the despicable scourge of violence perpetrated against women and children.

Zikalala said it is the good and honourable men who are enemies of GBV and femicide who are the eternal hope that the country will ultimately eradicate all forms of violence that women continue to face.

He said they regard the good men of the province and country as critical stakeholders in the national effort to prevent and end the crisis of GBV.

“We look to them to play their role in supporting victims of GBV and to ensure that wrongdoers face the full might of the law. To prevent or stop violence directed at women, we have to eradicate the culture of violence which is rooted in our society. Our programme of Radical Economic Transformation will continue to support women-owned enterprises and job creation targeting women. We are determined to ensure that at least 50% of Operation Vula funding goes to support women-owned businesses.

The KZN RASET programme and government set-asides targeting women are already bearing fruit in empowering women economically and bringing them to the mainstream of the economy. Our traditional leaders also have a big role to play in eliminating the practice of ukuthwala,” said Zikalala.

Ukuthwala is the tradition of men forcefully taking women to marry them.

Zikalala said throughout Men’s Month, the provincial government will host ongoing programmes and dialogues aimed at tackling mental health issues, including depression and other social ills that affect men in the home, at work, and in society.

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