Deputy Minister says GBV must be declared a genocide
Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane- Zulu says gender-based violence is no longer a pandemic, but "it's now genocide".
"At the rate that women are killed - this country needs to declare it as a genocide," says Bogopane- Zulu. "It is only then that we will begin to all stand-up and maybe then South African men, fathers will begin to do what they need to do."
She's pleaded with South African men, especially fathers - to build their families and not break them.
During a virtual Fathers' Day dialogue on Sunday - the Deputy Minister warned the country wouldn't have a future - unless men changed their behaviour.
"We have launched a Whatsapp Line where we called out to men to reach out for help by sending the word 'Brave' to 0800 150 150. We want to thank all the men because more than 28 000 men have called for help and they are aspiring to be champion men."
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She says they expect South African men to lead the calls for harsh sentences for perpetrators - and to hold each other accountable.
During the same dialogue, Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla implored fathers and caregivers to promote non-violence in their families.
"We need to shift the inter-generational cycle of violence to an inter-generational cycle of caring for each other. Real men protect their families and the community.
"Real men give comfort to their partners and children and do no harm them. Real men know that their masculinity is for providing security and comfort to their families and to society and not to harm women and children."
Speaking of behalf of the stakeholders of the South African National Aids Council - Phaahla has urged men to pledge their commitment to ending gender-based violence by challenging unhealthy messages about gender.
