Vhembe District Men's Parliament launched in Thohoyandou

The executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), Cllr Dowelani Nenguda, has called on men to stop abusing women and children and urged them to stand up and be active participants in fighting gender-based violence.

Cllr Nenguda was addressing hundreds of men from all corners of the Vhembe District during the launch of the Vhembe District Men’s Parliament in Thohoyandou on Friday. He said that the Men’s Parliament was an initiative of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC)’s Men’s Sector, in partnership with the Department of Social Development within the broader “Takuwani Riime Movement”. This is a call to action for men by men to stand up and be counted as meaningful partners in the health and socio-economic development of communities.

“The men’s forum was established also to look at how men can be engaged in dealing with various social issues such as the victimisation of women and children, violence in families, alcohol and drug abuse and gender-based violence,” said Nenguda.

The chairperson of Munna Ndi Nnyi (Who is the real man?), Dr Bardwell Mufunwaini, has urged the Vhembe District Municipality to help fund organisations that are active in fighting gender-based violence, so that they can go around and form street communities.

Mr Ntando Yola, the chairperson of the National Men’s Parliament, said he was convinced that the regional Men’s Parliament in Vhembe would help fight all gender-based violence.

Date:06 December 2019

By: Silas Nduvheni

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