22 Nov 2020

As the World celebrated the International Men’s Day on Thursday, Mabutsane Sub-district also held its mini celebration and descended on the tiny village of Mahotshwane, where various speakers urged men to restore their traditional status as respectable role models.

Mabutsane assistant district commissioner, Ms Tshepiso Leepo said traditionally, men were known to be the pillars of strength for their individual households and society in general. 

“We know that men were the providers and did most of the hard work for their families and society, so such efforts make men deserving of being celebrated,” he reminisced.

Ms Leepo therefore urged men to introspect and leave a positive legacy for future generations, especially in this era where manhood was becoming more and more associated with abuse rather than protection.

 “Nobody wants to leave a negative legacy when they die. 

We all want to depart on a positive note, and one way of doing that is to get married and settle down because marriage gives a sense of responsibility,” she said.

Ms Leepo indicated that marriage was not as expensive as many believed, except when individuals chose to be extravagant. Nominated councillor, who is also the sub-district’s gender champion, Ms Nolly Dikgokgwane advised that the International Men’s Day was not meant to counter women’s advocacy for their rights, but only for men to introspect.

He also advocated for marriage, saying that statistics indicated that most gender-based violence (GBV) cases occurred in intimate relationships outside of marriage. 

She said that Mabutsane Sub- district, just like other parts of the country was grappling with the issue of GBV, especially assault by partners.

For her part, Sergeant Metlhaetsile Gaebuse of Mabutsane police advised on reporting of GBV cases to authorities for help, and informed the gathering that it was against the law for parents to domestically settle such serious cases as sexual violence committed on children, saying only the magistrate could legally settle such matters.

“One day, such children will grow up to hold you accountable for letting their violators go free,” she said. In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Mohurutshi Maipolelo appreciated the sub-district’s decision to bring the celebrations to his village, saying despite its small size, it still registered a high volume of GBV cases compared to bigger villages in the area.

He advised men to learn to raise their concerns formally so that they could be assisted rather than taking the law into their hands. 

Kgosi Maipolelo also castigated women who withdrew GBV cases, saying that the act was equal to condoning the violence.  Ends