Over 500 men gathered at the Mgobodi Community Hall on September 10 to tackle gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) issues.
This programme was facilitated by the Nkomazi Local Municipality’s (NLM) executive mayor, Phindile Magagula, alongside the MMC for community services, Phindile Luphoko.
The men were given a platform to learn about, discuss and listen to the extent of the damage GBVF does, straight from the victims’ testimonials.
One of the survivors who boldly told her story was Loraine Khoza of the Loraine Khoza Foundation. She told the audience of how she had been brutally raped and had not received justice to date.
“I was raped nine years ago and to this date, my case is ongoing. It is unfortunate that while I am busy trying to find justice, the perpetrator went on to pry on three other victims during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an experience that alters one’s life completely and it takes so much work to get your confidence back. I never imagined I would stand in the presence of so many men and speak, because I saw them as animals that violated my life so badly. We go through so much at the hands of men. As women we are told not to wear certain types of clothing, but surprisingly even grandmothers who are fully covered still get raped. We appreciate programmes such as these where we get to speak and educate men on how deep the scars affect the victims.”
The men who listened attentively to the various speakers also made a pledge that they would make the change and make Nkomazi the safest place in South Africa.
An elderly woman, Sarah Sibindi, told the audience of how she was recently attacked by a young man, who forcefully entered her house and raped her multiple times.
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Magagula commended the men in attendance for taking the first step in confronting the GBVF scourge. “This is a very broad topic that could easily be lost in translation. I am happy that you came out in your large numbers to hold hands with us while we fight this monster. It is also worth noting that even men and young boys get to be subjected to it as well. The time for complacency is long gone and now is the time for action. We have a collective responsibility against this fight to protect everyone, especially our children. We need to talk to the children, whether boys or girls. They might be going through it and be scared to talk,” she said.
She further challenged the men to get more involved in fighting this pandemic, citing that a step as small as just attending such events can make a change in the community.
“These are not behaviours that one is born with, they are societal ills that children learn, whether from family or community members. It is our duty to change the status quo and ensure that we teach our children right. And we need to remember that they learn best from our behaviour and not just what we say. The government has done so many programmes to address this issue, but the number of women and children who die mostly at the hands of men keeps going up. The time has come for men to stand up and do something. We need to stop discussing such matters within the families. When GVBF happens, one should report it straight to the police.
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“Let’s challenge sexism and inequality in our work environment and society at large. Making snarky remarks over women’s dress code is also another form of abuse. Your actions can set a positive example and promote the culture of respect,” Magagula concluded.
The event was also supported by the Department of Social Development, the SAPS, the Department of Correctional Services, the Mzinti Men’s Forum, the Moral Regeneration Movement and some LGBTQIA+ representatives.
