KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has called on traditional leaders not to be complicit in the crimes against children.
Some traditional leaders have been criticised for imposing traditional practices that violate women’s and children’s rights.
Zikalala was speaking at the International Men’s Day commemoration in Mbumbulu, South of Durban.
The International Men’s Day in South Africa comes on the backdrop of shocking crime statistics released by the Police Minister on Friday.
Call for traditional leaders to act against GBV:
The province has also reported 21 000 cases of teenage pregnancy.
Rural areas remain a concern – where traditional customs and social norms lead to the violation of women’s rights.
Traditional leaders in some areas have been criticised for colluding with perpetrators and facilitating that damages be paid to the victims of assault and gender-based violence.
Zikalala says traditional leaders need to stop the habit of forcing perpetrators of GBV to pay victims compensation.
KZN Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza says, “We are talking to izinduna who should nurture young boys on how to deal with rejection because others opt to kill the girls. We need to have such platforms.”
#sabcnews #sabckzn KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala has called on traditional leaders NOT to be complicit in crimes against women and children, some traditional leaders have been accused of running kangaroo courts which facilitate that victims of GBV be paid compensation. pic.twitter.com/fRdFyfvoJY
— Nonkululeko Hlophe (@Leko3) November 20, 2021
Local traditional leaders say they have a responsibility to educate and instill in young men strong values to address violence in particular that’s directed at women and children.
A man attending the event says, “We are teaching young men to behave responsibly and to protect and provide for their families and also protect their communities.”
“We are being given life lessons by older men herd men who grouped into a group of young and responsible men. they teach us to respect and values,” says another man attending the event.
The International 16 days of Activism Against Women and Children campaign is expected to kick off in less than a week.
Traditional leaders have also committed to stemming the tide against gender-based violence.
KZN men discuss ways to combat gender-based violence:
