The City of Johannesburg through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) hosted a Men’s Dialogue themed the “Voices of Men” today at Altrec Hall in Alexandra on Africa Day, 25 May 2023. The aim was to engage with men on how to be change agents in their communities and build a society where all people who live in it are free from fear.
Men gathered in their numbers to discuss topics that are often avoided or hardly mentioned between men and society at large.
The Men’s Dialogue was also an opportunity for experts to speak to men in a formally structured programme where experts from different fields shared information on men’s psycho-social issues and provided solutions.
Marumo Ralebone, Employee Assistance Programme Specialist in the City of Johannesburg, said there is a dominant narrative that men do not seek help when they experience suffering and emotional troubles.
“However, despite these stories and dysfunctional norms and beliefs of society, it is evident that men’s access to services remains limited due to the lack of gender-specific support,” said Ralebone.
One of the speakers, Nditsheni Maanda from the Justice Department, spoke about co-parenting, child maintenance and divorce matters.
“Both men and women misinterpret what is wrong and right when it comes to children born out of wedlock, going through a divorce and what is necessary when co-parenting. Common ground is needed and the presence of the other parent is more important than what you can give in valuable items,” she said.
She said maintenance is more than monetary value add to a child’s life and that responsibility is being present and thinking of the best interests of the child and their well-being as the mother and the father.
“It is evident that this was a key matter for men given the multiple questions asked during the question and answer session,” said Maanda.
The issue of GBV was highlighted by Gibson Sidebe, who mentioned that some men were not taking kindly to upwardly mobile, working and educated women.
“This is one of the contributing factors to increased GBV among the many others such as substance abuse and also changes in the day to day living that contribute to men’s inability to adapt,” said Sidebe.
He added that men must use platforms such as the Men’s Dialogue so that society can paint a better picture of men.
“The Men’s Dialogue is a great point of departure to encourage the topics that are unheard and unseen by society. We do not want to create the narrative that men are wrong and irresponsible, instead, we want to create a forum for men to speak out and be heard and make available options to help as well.”
“Knowledge will assist and empower men and will greatly contribute towards the fight against GBV while encouraging men to seek help because help is available. Understanding and men listening and learning from other men is also a starting point,” said Sidebe.
Written by Sascha-Lee Joseph
25/05/23