In trying to find answers on gender-based violence (GBV), a dialogue among men was held at Christian Fellowship Church in Nomzamo on Saturday 6 August.
The dialogue comes as a result of the high number of GBV cases reported at Lwandle Police Station.
The dialogue’s main goal was to engage men in the community on issues of GBV, also to urge them to speak up if they have problems.
This was also designed to educate and equip them on variety of societal challenges they face daily.
The session started with an explanation and set the tone on domestic violence cases by Sgt Mthokozisi Gama.
Gama said police record domestic violence cases daily and receive more protection orders from the court every week.
He said usually, complainants are women and perpetrators are men.
Gama said men are more seldom in reporting GBV cases.
“Abuse of liquor, love triangle, jealousy, gender power struggle, unemployment, lack of communication, and lack of respect were sighted as the main contributors to gender-based violence,” he said.
Lwandle’s Station Commander Col Xolani Williams said they were concerned by the high number of GBV cases in the Lwandle precinct.
“As the station we are talking about something that we see on a daily basis. The numbers are very high and we need to see this coming to an end,” said Williams, urging men to open up.
“So, we wanted to hear from men themselves as to what exactly is the problem because they are the culprits. As men we need to know that there’s no one that own one’s life,” he said.
Williams believes a lot of education is still needed as men still have the stereotype that men are the head of the homes, and their voices are final.
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair, Siyabonga Macaula said it was important to call men under one roof to discuss and find out what exactly were the challenges that lead to GBV cases.
“A number of issues such as unemployment, love triangle were sighted as some of the contributing factors that lead to GBV. In some cases abuse of alcohol also contributed in GBV, as men used alcohol to escape from their problems,” he said.
Macaula said they were planning to host a summit on gender violence where government and other stakeholders will be invited and share their views on the issue.
On the day’s dialogue some of the organisation present, included Lwandle Spiritual Crime Prevention, The Cornerstone Men’s Network, Khayelitsha Cluster Men For Change, Strand court, Department of Social Development.