A group of South African men is taking part in community efforts aimed at confronting violence against women, as concerns over gender-based violence and femicide continue to draw national attention.
Among those involved is Kgomotso Mathekga, a 30-year-old man living in Johannesburg’s Organic Market informal settlement. Mathekga has spoken openly about witnessing violence against women in his community and acknowledged that he had previously behaved violently during an argument with a former partner.
He is now participating in gatherings where men discuss relationships, behaviour and the need to challenge violence rather than ignore it.
The meetings are part of wider efforts to encourage men to examine attitudes and behaviours that can contribute to abuse. Participants are being encouraged to speak openly about difficult experiences and recognise how harmful ideas about masculinity can affect relationships.
Men urged to challenge other men
The focus on male involvement comes as South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of gender-based violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has recently called on men and boys to take greater responsibility in preventing violence against women. He said the response to gender-based violence should not place the burden solely on women, who often organise protests, support survivors and take precautions because of safety concerns.
Ramaphosa urged men to confront inappropriate behaviour among their friends, colleagues and relatives instead of remaining silent.
The president also pointed to the importance of teaching boys about respect, consent, rejection and managing anger from an early age.
Changing attitudes in communities
For campaigners working with men, changing social attitudes is considered an important part of preventing abuse.
Community discussions can provide an opportunity for men to question behaviours that have sometimes been normalised in their surroundings. This includes controlling relationships, harassment, intimidation and the use of physical force during disputes.
Mathekga’s experience illustrates the personal nature of some of these conversations. Having acknowledged his own past actions, he has become involved in discussions that encourage men to consider the consequences of their behaviour and find alternatives to violence.
The approach also seeks to challenge the idea that violence is an unavoidable part of male behaviour.
Government calls for broader participation
South African authorities have previously called on men to actively oppose gender-based violence.
The Department of Social Development has urged men to treat women as equals, reject violence and challenge inappropriate behaviour by other men. Its campaign also encourages men to become positive role models for boys and to speak out against abuse rather than remain passive.
The government’s position is that preventing violence requires participation from families, schools, workplaces, community organisations and other institutions.
Ramaphosa has similarly argued that prevention must begin in homes and in the way children are raised, while schools, sporting organisations, religious institutions and workplaces also have roles to play.
A growing call for men to take responsibility
The involvement of men such as Mathekga reflects a broader effort to make the prevention of violence against women a responsibility shared across society.
Rather than focusing only on how women can protect themselves, advocates are calling for greater attention to the conduct of those who perpetrate abuse and to the social environments that can allow harmful behaviour to persist.
The recent national conversation has therefore placed increased emphasis on men speaking up when they see harassment, intimidation or abuse.
For campaigners, the objective is to encourage men to become active participants in prevention and to help create communities where violence against women is challenged rather than tolerated.
