Government leaders call for urgent measures to curb violence in SA

Government leaders have sounded the alarm on South Africa’s deepening culture of violence, calling for urgent, targeted intervention among young men and boys as a key strategy to curb gender-based violence and violent crime. The Men and Boys Parliament — an annual gathering of government leaders, men and boys to address social ills such as violence against women and children, substance abuse, and men’s health — began at the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature on Thursday and concludes on Friday. Deputy President Paul Mashatile was expected to deliver the keynote address; however, Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Kenneth Morolong, delivered it in his absence.

“There is an urgent need within our families, our communities, and society at large to invest more deliberately in nurturing the boy child,” Mashatile’s speech read. Mashatile called for grown men to be positive role models by showing that real strength is displayed by respecting everyone, actively discouraging discrimination, and protecting vulnerable groups like women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. He stressed that positive role models and frank discussions between men and boys, which challenge harmful mindsets and behaviours such as believing that women are less than men, are the only way to end the gender-based violence epidemic in the country.

If men do not take responsibility, then our policies will remain documents, our strategies will remain aspirations, and our communities will continue to suffer. “What we clearly require is leadership, accountability, and decisive action, especially from men,” his speech read. Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks, said that South Africa is known as one of the most unsafe places in the world, particularly for women.

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He said this difficult reality must be challenged and changed for the sake of future generations and to repair the reputation of South African men. “We need to see men calling out men who perpetuate violence against women and children and say ‘Not in my name’,” he said.

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