KZN PROVINCIAL HOUSE OF TRADITIONAL LEADERS CALLS UPON MEN TO PLAY THEIR ROLE IN FIGHTS AGAINST GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial House of Traditional Leaders through its Chairperson Inkosi PhathisizweChiliza, is calling upon all men in the province to be protectors of women and children amidst the rise of Gender Based Violence (GBV) throughout the country.

The call by Inkosi Chiliza comes after several incidents of gender based violence have left the country reelingand shocked. A number of women and children have in the past few weeks fallen victim to violence directed towards them. “What has taken place in the past few weeks has been shameful and beneath upstanding and righteous men. We call on all men in the province to go back to basics by becoming the natural protectors of women and children instead of being their tormentors”he said.

Inkosi Chiliza believes that traditional leaders have a vital role to play in the fight against the scourge of violence directed at women and children as many men in the province reside in traditional authorities. “As traditional leaders we need to do more in sounding the call for men to be the protectors of women and children. We also need to intensify our efforts in educating men about the role they must play in our communities,” hesaid.

Moreover, Inkosi Chiliza is urging communities living under traditional authorities to continue adhering to Covid-19 regulations as government continues with efforts to fight the pandemic. We have noticed that since the announcement of Lockdown Level 3, some in our communities have tended to show disregard for the regulations in place. “We therefore plead with communities to continue adhering to the regulations that are meant to protect them from the harmful virus,” said Chiliza.