POLOKWANE – Following the conclusion of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) last month (November), there has been a call for men to play a bigger role in fighting this scourge and encouraging their fellow men to take the stand against women and child abuse. The South African Police Service in Limpopo through the Men for Change leadership in the province had on Wednesday 15 December 2021, led a stakeholder engagement at the New Peter Mokaba Auditorium.
The event was spearheaded by Provincial Men for Change Champion Lieutenant Colonel Remmonejesu Sekgotha and supported by the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe.
The other attendees included the speaker of Polokwane Municipality Mme Velemina Modiba, Assistant Manager Municipal Traffic Mr Rampero M.R, Head of Polokwane Correctional Centre Mr Muller A.J, Assupol Financial Management, members of Community Safety, Traffic, Correctional Service and the founder of MannaTabernacle and Mongana lo Nene presenter Dr Strike Manganyi as the guest speaker.
Chaplain (Rev) Lieutenant Colonel Mahlangu opened with a prayer and scripture reading, quoting Ephesians Chapter 5: 25-27 “Real men love free”.
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe gave a word of welcome and support. In her speech, she hammered more on collaboration between the stakeholders to fight the scourge of GBVF. She appealed to men to respect and support their wives and develop a strong coping mechanism to deal with challenges and conflicts as problems like seasons, they come and go. She further urged them to remain humble, never look down on others and be tactful when dealing with problems by responding graciously instead of acting out as you might end up causing more damage which will leave you frustrated. To set a good example for their children especially boys, keeping in mind that they copy and learn from us parents. She concluded by encouraging all men to speak out and not bottle things inside, keep God closer in everything they do and continue to engage with each other and lock heads to find possible solutions that will help end GBV&F.
The programme director Lieutenant Colonel Seabi introduced the dignitaries. Lieutenant Colonel Sekgotha gave purpose of the event. He emphasised that Men for Change should be a movement that is recognised everywhere especially within the communities, advocating for protection of women and children from all forms of violence and abuse.
Polokwane Municipality Manager Law Enforcement and Traffic Assistant Manager gave words of encouragement and called upon men to stand against women and child abuse, starting in their own families and society.
The guest speaker Dr Strike Manganyi, spoke about introspection and said men before helping others, they should first put on the “emergency masks” on themselves. That they need to love and appreciate themselves so that they can be able to share the love. He went on saying, being the appointed and anointed man of God, a family man and a community leader, like other men including those in the law enforcement he has the duty to promote peace, love and justice.
“A lot is expected from us as we constantly fighting corruption, suicides, domestic violence at our workplace and within personal space. As men we bear responsibility in the society, for the levels of violence against women and children and as men we also know that we are key to the solutions. We need to go out there and find those who really need help as ambassadors and champions of Men for Change movement”.
Head of Polokwane Correctional Centre Mr Muller thanked all stakeholders for the great initiative, particularly the SAPS Men for Change under the stewardship of Lieutenant Colonel Sekgota, for realising the need to work together with external stakeholders to end gender based violence.
The SAPS band kept the audience on their toes throughout the programme.
Source: South African Police Service