Men unite against GBV
Church, community leaders join in prayer, aim to educate youth
In the week that saw public outcry explode among South Africans at the brutal killing of Namhla Mtwa outside her Mthatha home, men in Makhanda took a stand against gender-based violence through prayers and gatherings.
Church members and community leaders under the banner of the Makhanda Legends joined in prayer and song at the BB Zondani hall last
Thursday.
Makhanda Legends chairperson Reverend Lindile Sam, Archbishop of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church Nkosinathi Ngesi, and Makana ward 2 councillor Ramie Xonxa addressed the gathering on issues of gender-based violence, crime and drug abuse in the community.
Last Saturday, the Makhanda Bachelor Elders gathered at Noluthando Hall on a similar theme.
Elders member Unathi Dingana said: “Our aim is to bring back Ubuntu. We want to educate young boys against alcohol abuse, gender-based violence and drug abuse – bring back Ubuntu.
“We want to do this before they go to initiation in the hope that when they come back from the bush, they contribute positively to the community.”
A lack of safe spaces and activities for young people was a major contributor to social
problems, Dingana said.
“If we want to teach kids from young how to be good community members, we need to have places for them to do positive things – parks, proper sports facilities.
“We need more schools, not more prisons: men who are unemployed are men who are frustrated,” Dingana said. The group plans to do outreaches in the form of talks at schools, to help create awareness among the youth.