By Petrus Siko.

• As the country faces rising levels of gender-based violence and femicide, the North West Department of Social Development has called on men to become protectors, communicators and active participants in strengthening family life and building safer homes.
• During a men’s dialogue held at Mmabatho Palms in Mahikeng, Acting Head of Department Ms Peggy Mhlongo-Kgaboesele urged male staff to lead by example and become role models in their communities.
• The dialogue forms part of the department’s broader efforts to shift harmful social norms and promote gender justice through open, honest engagement.

Ms Mhlongo-Kgaboesele encouraged men to engage in difficult conversations with their partners and children, cautioning against emotional suppression and silence, which can lead to violence. “If we are to lead peaceful lives in our homes, men should learn to engage in uncomfortable conversations. Men should also be protectors. They must protect their territory. They must protect their families,” she said.

She urged men to seek professional help when overwhelmed and to avoid turning to harmful behaviours such as alcohol misuse or emotional withdrawal. Financial stress, she noted, should be met with practical solutions such as diversifying income streams, rather than suffering in silence.

The Department’s Family Preservation Manager, Ms Hessie Wissie, appealed to men to uphold values of faithfulness and honesty within marriage. “Stick to your wives. Build your families on love. Do not compromise your marriage. Unfaithfulness breaks families and leads to divorce,” she said. She added that fathers should be prayerful leaders who model truth and consistency for their children.

Clinical expert Dr Thabo Moloto addressed the risks of untreated depression among men, including the prevalence of suicide. He stressed that emotional pain should not be masked with substances or silence. “Do not use alcohol to heal depression. We must redefine masculinity in a way that allows for vulnerability and emotional expression. Men should not feel ashamed to ask for help,” he said.

Mr Tshepo Mudavheni, Gender Focal Person at the national Department of Social Development, said the GBV dialogues have already reached provinces including Limpopo, Gauteng and the North West, with more roadshows planned across the country.

Through initiatives like these, the Department continues to drive conversations that encourage men to reject harmful norms, embrace emotional wellness and become champions of non-violence in their homes and communities.