- Lwandle Police Station held educational dialogues on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) at Homeboy and KwaMazibuko taverns.
- Ward Councillor Xolani Diniso and patrons discussed how alcohol exacerbates problems like aggression and urged men to address issues without resorting to drinking.
- Station Commander Lt Col Mlamli Voyiya emphasized the need for such dialogues, citing the link between tavern environments, alcohol use and increased GBV-related cases.
In an effort to root out gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), Lwandle Police Station officers held a tavern dialogue at two local taverns on Saturday 7 December.
The discussions to educate men about GBVF were held at Homeboy and KwaMazibuko taverns. Men were taught about the dangers and consequences of GBVF.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso was among the participants. He described the GBV-F as a pandemic that needed to be confronted. He stressed both genders were affected by the scourge.
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“Most of the men do not speak out, preferring instead to consume alcohol to relieve stress,” said Diniso. “They continue drinking to the point that whatever they were bottling inside bursts forth.”
He urged men to stop using alcohol as a coping mechanism and to confront their problems.
Diniso stated that alcohol doesn’t take away their problems, instead it multiplies them.
Another participant who identified himself as Sbu, described the event as informative.
He said patrons needed such initiatives to be informed about important societal issues. “We can’t lie; there’s a lot happening in taverns and shebeens. When some of us are drunk, we become aggressive or abusive towards our partners. The problem is, we don’t talk and keep our emotions inside. But when drunk all this veers out of control.”
Sbu praised the officers for being brave and visiting such places, where things are not really taken seriously amid the drinking. “We drink for various reasons. Others drink for fun, while others are trying to calm their stress. We see taverns as the only place where we can relieve ourselves.”
Sbu added that he hoped the officers would conduct more similar activities.
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Lwandle Station Commander Lt Col Mlamli Voyiya, who led the tavern dialogue, said it was important to organise because of an increase in GBV-F cases opened at the station.
“The taverns were chosen for they are known to be venues where men would prefer to drink and socialise, and where some will speak about their domestic situation while chilling, while others will even plan their move to vent their anger on their partners.”
Voyiya added that men choose taverns to hang around and buy some time instead of spending it with their families, rather than deal with the discord they experience with their partners.
He stated that the dialogue also served as a platform to interrogate and better understand the role alcohol plays in gender-based related crimes.
