Gender based violence has taken centre stage in our country in the recent months with too many cases reported all over the media. In response to this, concerned men’s organisations under the auspices of South African Men Movement United (SAMMOVU) have organised a two-day consultative conference this weekend with a view to developing a sustainable plan to deal with this scourge.

“This is a consultative conference of South African Men’s Organisations on gender relations and violence against women and children,” says Reverend George Ngwenya, one of the founders and organisers of the conference.“We expect to have about 500 men from all over the country attending the conference to help create a plan to deal with this shocking and rising phenomenon of femicide spreading throughout the country”, he adds. 

The Deputy President of the Republic Hon. Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver a keynote address at the conference with Ministers Bathabile Dlamini (Social Development) and Susan Shabangu (Women) giving a message of support.
Over the two days, the conference delegates will be split into six commissions that will deal with the response of men in the different areas where gender violence is prevalent the most.

From the organizers of the conference there might be a need for concerted and regional efforts that are coordinated across the country to deal with this challenge. Their thinking in this regard will also be tabled at the conference. “We hope to come up with clear and actionable resolutions from this conference that will demonstrate our commitment as men to take the challenge head on,” says Reverend Ngwenya.

“The invite to the conference has been sent to cover men from all sectors of our society so that the solutions will reflect diverse views and ensure applicability through different spheres of our society,” he concludes.

The conference is scheduled as follows:
VENUE: Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, Gauteng
DATE:  10 JUNE 2017
TIME: 09h00 - 17h00