LETTER | Narrative on GBV and femicide must change

The Eastern Cape Men’s Movement (ECMM) was dismayed by the shocking news of the brutal murder of a final-year LLB student from the University of Fort Hare’s East London campus.

The horrific manner in which this dastardly crime was committed is nothing short of a nightmare.

The ECMM condemns this crime, which comes after we were shocked by the lenient 22-year sentence given to a young woman who murdered her two children.

The ECMM recently started staging its Men’s Dialogues in townships and rural areas. These dialogues are as a result of the movement realising the fight against violence goes well beyond gender issues.

The decline in our social fibre can be attributed to compromised institutions such as family structures; moral degeneration in our communities; [problems in] initiation schools and the schooling system; and a lack of leadership and voices of reason.

The ECMM and other partner men’s organisations like the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement are calling on all men to refrain from using violence to solve problems. We call on all men in the province to join us and other like-minded organisations.

Those men who face challenges and are susceptible to abusing women and children, not excluding man-on-man violence and violence towards the LGBTQ+ community, should seek help and counselling services in their immediate communities.

We further make a call to institutions of higher learning and churches to open their doors to engage young men and women. The conventional way of teaching sets the basis but may have limitations when it comes to communicating the realities we find ourselves in.

Some of us have learnt that the conventional ways of learning and teaching do not assist much; we believe churches and institutions of higher learning should be leading programmes around gender-based violence and femicide, sexuality and so on, if they are to make any impact.

Prayer sessions are good, but not a solution. These institutions must have standing programmes and partnerships with community organisations in their immediate environment.

Our deepest condolences go to the family and friends of the young Fort Hare victim. As fathers, brothers, uncles and sons we cannot even imagine what you are going through as a family and community. All we can hope and pray for is that time will heal you.

In conclusion, let us all change the narrative when we talk about GBV to involve everyone in fighting these atrocities. It is our wish that justice will be seen in this case and a sentence handed down that will deter any other would-be murderer. — Rev Xolamzi Sam, East London