Deputy President Paul Mashatile has commended Parliament’s collaboration with the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTL), the Department of Social Development, the South African National Aids Council and the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement that aims to end gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
He was speaking at the launch of the third National Men’s Parliament: Takuwani Riime Programme of Action in the Vhembe District Municipality in Limpopo, where representatives from various interested sectors gathered to pledge their support for the fight against gender-based violence. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, represented Parliament at the event. Mr Tsenoli was also the programme director of the launch programme.
Mr Mashatile said the programme is a vital step in the ongoing commitment to fostering positive masculinity is society. “Takuwani Riime is a call for us as men to stand united in responding to the multiple gendered challenges that exist in our society. This national call is aligned with the global calls to end violence against women and girls, as championed by the African Union and the United Nations. It is important that we understand violence against women as a global phenomenon and also appreciate that through concerted efforts we can bring an end to this scourge,” he said.
He also commended traditional leaders, faith-based organisations and nongovernmental organisations for the role they play in fighting GBV in their communities through the Takuwani Riime Programme of Action, under the oversight of the Men’s Parliament. “I applaud the work that has been done and also urge that the resolutions of this year’s sitting of the national Men’s Parliament should mark an important turning point in the course of the Men’s Movement, as we enter a phase of implementation at the grassroots level.
“We encourage all traditional leaders, religious leaders, ward councillors, principals of educational institutions and all men from diverse backgrounds to respond to the call of the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement and unite as engaged citizens in the global expansion of a responsive men’s movement,” the Deputy President said.
Mr Mashatile also condemned the high rate of violence against women, saying it is unacceptable that the country has the highest female homicide rate among the five countries with the highest annual murders. “We cannot continue to be silent when 70 lives will be violently ended by the end of today. Three children are killed daily, a woman is abused every 63 seconds and eight women are murdered every day in our country”.
He called on men to refrain from normalising the culture of GBV through problematic language of sexist jokes, victim blaming and rigid gender stereotypes that devalue girls and women. “As part of our concerted effort to eradicate societal problems, we must specifically target the pervasive problem of rape against vulnerable groups, such as women with disabilities, children, the elderly, and the LGBTQIA+ community,” he said.
The Deputy President said initiatives such as the Men's Parliament will enhance South Africa’s efforts to fight GBV going forward. He also commended the Takuwani Riime Programme of Action for recognising that to end GBV, we must dismantle the culture of violence by being intolerant to subtle or socially accepted attitudes, beliefs and actions that tolerate, excuse and condone violence. The Deputy President told the stakeholders that the Takuwani Riime Programme of Action was critical in facilitating dialogue and positive social change.
Through the Men’s Parliament, the underlying principle is to ensure mainstreaming, coordination and implementation of coherent men’s movement activities, using the Men Championing Change Programme to address concerns that affect men such as:
- Men lagging behind in educational attainment, particularly in higher education, which can have long-term economic and social consequences.
- Issues such as unemployment, wage gaps and occupational hazards that disproportionately affect men in various sectors.
- Men facing health inequities driven by poor health-seeking behaviour and unique health concerns, including prostate cancer and heart disease.
- Men confronted by stigma around mental health issues, leading to high rates of depression and suicide.
The Deputy President commended the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement for its efforts to roll out community Men’s Parliaments, which is the last tier of the Men's Parliament framework extending from national to community settings. This inclusive community initiative seeks to create a designated platform in traditional councils, wards, institutions of education and any other self-described community for men to convene on Wednesdays around the country.
The platform will provide a consistent and predictable schedule for men in fostering dialogue, collaboration and resolution of issues that impact on them and their communities. It will also allow men to be vulnerable in a society that demands that men be tough.
Sakhile Mokoena
21 November 2023
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