Men need assistance

South Africa urgently needs a national strategic plan on gender-based violence otherwise there will be more bloodshed, Sonke Gender Justice said yesterday.

The organisation’s acting co-director Bongani Khumalo said Kate Chiloane, the Mpumalanga teacher who was gunned down by her husband Vusi Mdluli who later turned the gun on himself, would not be the last if no strategic plans, like the ones to fight HIV, were put in place.

“She is not the last one we are going to read about.

“We need a comprehensive plan to deal with issues of gender-based violence and patriarchy.”

He said there was a lack of psycho-social programmes for men like Mdluli who have nowhere to go for help.

“The biggest challenge again is stigma. Men are not expected to show emotion, or else you are seen as weak.

“Men then resort to abusing alcohol, drugs and their partners,” he said.

Clinical psychologist Teboho Monyamane said: “In general, when people post things about death it raises a ‘red flag’, it is a cry for help,” – Sibongile Mashaba