Men, boy children challenges also a concern

Thursday, May 31, 2018

Gauteng Social Development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza says society must pay more attention to addressing men and boy children challenges in the same manner as women and girl children.

Mayathula-Khoza was reacting to the killing of Sheila Mosidi Kopanye, who was allegedly stabbed to death by her former boyfriend at the weekend.

The 33-year-old mother from Mabopane was a clerk at the Temba Magistrate's Court, in Hammanskraal.

She was stabbed to death after she posted on her social media chilling evidence of her being followed against her will, which nobody acted on.

The suspect has since handed himself over to the police.

Mayathula-Khoza said the tragic death of Kopanye was unacceptable and it called for a society wide response, especially men.

“This gender-based violence, places men as predominant perpetrators. It strengthens the hypothesis that women are at greater risk of being murdered in familiar environments by men known to them. This means we must as a society pay more attention to addressing men and boy children challenges in the same manner we are doing about women and girl children,’’ she said.

Men’s Forum

The MEC said the Gauteng Department of Social Development has a Men’s Forum aimed at assisting men to deal with a diversity of issues.

The forum is involved in a number of programmes, including psycho-social support groups, motivational visits to schools and working with non-profit organisations, and non-governmental organisations who are funded by the Department of Social Development.

The Men’s Forum will also look at how men can be engaged in dealing with various social issues, such as victimisation of women and children, violence in families, alcohol and drug abuse and gender-based violence.

The MEC said men don’t talk [but] they suffer in silence, and their outbursts result in such tragedies.

“The Men’s Forum can play an inspiration role. They can motivate, engage, assist and inspire other men to be examples of change in their community and build a society where all people who live in it, are free without fear,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za