By Mbangwa Xaba
Every year, around this time, a routine assault begins. We are bombarded with endless messages about the United Nations’ campaign – 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.
A good course if you ask me, trouble is, for some inexplicable devilish reason, in our republic, this good initiative has become synonymous with the scourge itself. It is almost like it is a soundtrack to this horror movie.
Without fail, this period is accompanied by some gruesome acts of brutality against women and children. One never knows if this is to undermine this initiative or if South Africa is just being its typical lawless self.
To usher in the campaign, in October, decomposed bodies of six women were discovered in Johannesburg. Sadly, this was not an isolated incident since then to date.
Ahead of the launch of the 16 Days, in a shocking report, Police Minister Bheki Cele reminded the nation that we were worse than a war zone. He reported increases in the number of murders, rapes and other crimes against women and children.
He said a total of 1 277 women were victims of attempted murder. There were 13701 cases of assault on women and 1 895 of children. These figures showed that 10,818 rape cases were reported in the first quarter of 2022. These figures place us among the highest rape incidence in the world. Before and after Covid-19 was identified as a pandemic in the country, gender-based violence has been and still remains the number one national tragedy.
Even mothers are now murderers of their children. In the Eastern Cape, a 32-year-old mother is alleged to have killed four of her children – aged between 2 and 11.
Such crimes are the loudest indications that our society requires more than just summits and good messages.
We owe it to generations of this nation to take responsibility for building a better society. Let every citizen contribute towards ensuring a safe environment for ALL CHILDREN. ALL OF US must play a role in ensuring that our children enjoy quality education and health care, are protected from the abuse of alcohol and drugs, protected from other social ills like teenage pregnancy and the pain of unemployment.
And you, the man, the father who reads this, are the greatest contributor.
You can make your contribution towards ensuring that your children or any other young person, have access to education, so they can obtain higher qualifications or other forms of skills. You can be a catalyst to development so that young people close to you are gainfully employed or are leading successful businesses. Be the deference!
This spirit was rekindled in me recently when I attended the Gauteng Government’s Men’s Forum’s 365 Men’s Awards. I found the occasion heartwarming.
The awards are about instilling positive attitudes and personalities amongst boys and young men.
The initiative invokes so beautifully the spirit of American social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass who maintained that it was “easier to raise strong boys than to heal broken men.”
The awards recognise men who make a difference in their communities or area of work. From education, business, sports and entertainment to social activists. It is these inclusive and society-wide initiatives that will help cultivate men who can distinguish themselves as positive male role models in society.
I was in awe watching the work done by the boys and men who were recognised that evening. Their work encourages and inspires, and I hope they will continue to reach more boys and men in society so that we ALL can do likewise.
The awards are not a competition but a way of recognising the good work that is done by men in society and educating men in general, on community development and on the social responsibility that all should have towards society.
It is appropriate to view the 365 Men’s Awards as an advocacy and awareness-creating campaign designed to transform South African men into building a better tomorrow.
These awards plant the ideal seeds for a better tomorrow. I truly hope that more men are touched.
