Mataffin Men’s Forum tackles men’s issues head-on

As a way to give men a platform to share their life challenges and to get support, the Mataffin Men’s Forum (MMF) hosted two events over the weekend.

The first event, titled “Khuluma ndonda” (speak up, man), was held at Plaston outside White River on Friday March 18, and the second event, titled “Bhodla ndonda” (open up, man), was held in Matsafeni on Monday March 21.

According to Lungile Maqina, the spokesperson for the MMF, they wanted to give men a platform to speak out about the challenges that they are battling with.

“We invited various stakeholders who are professionals so that they can share solutions on how to deal with daily challenges. We want men to be able to know where to go when they feel overwhelmed. This, because we noticed that the government is focusing mainly on women and children.”

During the event, some men shared their challenges with others.

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“We heard from a man who told us how he was forced to go spend time in a tavern due to the situation at home. Every day after sitting there without drinking, he sprinkles alcohol on himself so that when he gets home, he can pretend to be drunk. This way his wife lets him sleep without talking to him, and he says this his way of having peace in his home.

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“Another man said the situation was so bad that he has decided to get a court interdict against his wife and her family, because they violate him.

This interdict has not helped him, and he says he is tired of going to the police station for help. He says he sometimes thinks of taking matters into his own hands. “This showed us that the events we are hosting are giving men the chance they need.” Maqina said after the discussions, they played some soccer.