Lack of morals has an impact on GBV

July marked Moral Regeneration Month aimed at encouraging people to recommit to efforts of building communities grounded on positive values and rededicate to building a caring society in pursuit of creating lasting peace and prosperity in the country.

This is also in light of gender based violence (GBV) which is on the rise in society.

GCN spoke to Elsburg community leader and a co-founder of a men’s dialogue sessions, Prince Rulashe.

The group mentors younger men and engages men on issues they face in communities and society at large.

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“A number of men in the country are in need of moral regeneration,” said Rulashe.

“In every community morals, values and ethics are the backbone of a thriving and growing community. Once a community loses its morals it is the beginning of decay.”

He believes the origins of GBV is multi-faceted, which includes moral degeneration.

“Men with morals know how to love and respect women and children. They are better equipped to solve issues,” said Rulashe.

GCN asked Rulashe what society can do to help young men.

“This is not a quick fix. As a community we must be role models to young men and also offer mentoring programmes. We should not just talk the talk but also walk the walk as leaders.

“We should lead by example not only on service delivery issues but even in our personal lives we should set an ideal example,” said Rulashe.

He said lack of guidance and a father figure in a young man’s life can contribute to negative behaviour and lack of morals.

“There is a saying that environment is everything and hereditary is nothing and that it takes a village to raise a child. If you look closely at cases where men abuse, rape or kill women you will find most of the times that the men was raised by a single mother or grew up in a society that lacked father figures.

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“You might also find they were raised within a toxic environment of abuse,” said Rulashe.

He said leaders need to take a stand and address the issue of moral decay to raise better men with good moral values.

“As leaders and elder men we should be the change we want to see in the younger generation. We should be better role models in our communities and mentor young men,” said Rulashe.

GBV survivor Miranda Lephokho’s life changed 14 years ago when her husband shot her. She said it is sad that GBV is still a prevalent problem.

“It makes me wonder if it will ever end. I survived but so many still suffer,” said Lephokho.

“GBV is a moral issue. How a man is raised plays a major role in what kind of man he becomes when he grows up,” she said.

She added there were signs of emotional abuse when they were dating.

“I ignored them with the hope that he will change. His insecurities and possessiveness became worse in our marriage which destroyed it. I felt caged and was losing my self-esteem,” she said.

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Contact the newsroom by emailing:Editor at germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.

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