The National Chairperson of Men for Change in the South African Police Services (SAPS), Colonel Sivuyile Nqaphi, confirmed that men from police services and stakeholders hosted a march in Mthatha, with the aim of fighting Gender-Based Violence (GBV), as OR Tambo District is a hot spot area for this behaviour.
Nqaphi said that after marching on the streets of Mthatha they also hosted a Men’s Dialogue, held at Mthatha Town Hall on the same day.
The march and dialogue were honoured by a number of stakeholders, including the Department of Community Safety, the Department of Correctional Services, mayoral offices, Traditional Leadership, and other critical role-players.
“We took this decision because we have noticed that Mthatha is one of the areas that has a high rate of GBV-related cases that is increasing. We decided to come closer and do an awareness as men, to educate other men about this problem. We are here to make a noise, as you see that we are carrying placards that have different messages; some of those messages are saying real man do not rape,” said Nqaphi.
He added that the initiative aimed at involving the community of OR Tambo District in the fight against GBV and femicide.
“While remembering the thousands of women who marched to the Union Building in August 1956, and celebrating the incredible success and achievements of women countrywide, we call upon men in this district to protect every woman and play their critical role in the fight against GBV and F,” he said.
District Commissioner from OR Tambo District, Major General Phumzile Cetyana, said they invited all stakeholders to participate in this march, and say no to GBV.
“As the police officers, together with the members of Men for Change, we have decided to take responsibility and march in the streets of Mthatha. We also planned to meet here in the town hall to host a Men’s Dialogue with the aim of trying to find a solution to this problem.
“We are forcing in three topics that we are talking about: Role and responsibility of men in the society, the perspective of being a parent and raising a child, and the danger of ignoring a boy child and the nature of GBV and Femicide-related cases,” said Cetyana.
He said they also invited community members to join them so that they could also get the message.
Cetyana added that they do awareness campaigns and educate people about the issue of witchcraft.
“We are doing campaigns and telling communities that killing someone is not a solution simply because they think they are practising witchcraft.
“Some of the elderly people are sick, so the communities should understand them. When someone is getting older some of them become attacked by dementia syndrome which makes them say anything without thinking properly. By doing that, community members associate them with witchcraft which is not true,” said Cetyana.
He confirmed that there are many cases that have been opened, and some perpetrators have been sentenced, especially in Lusikisiki.
Chairperson of the Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum, Reverend Mziyanda Noqayi, said that they are working together with the men for change provincially.
He said that they are saying they are against people who are abusing women and children.
He confirmed that even men are abused, but they choose to keep quiet and not report it to the police.
“We are saying all those who are facing this problem must report it, so that our country can be free of this problem.
“If one man is abusive, this stigma affects all men and leads people to think that all men are abusive. We are here to say no to this behaviour. If homes are strong, we will never have this behaviour in our societies,” said Noqayi.
