MEMBERS of the South African Men’s Forum (SAMFO) hosted an Indaba Awareness Event at Mputhi Great Place in Bhaziya, Mthatha, recently.
According to the General Secretary for the South African Men’s Forum, Banele Khumsha, this initiative seeks to empower their communities through various challenges, Intensive Family Support, Education Awareness, Parent Education, and Marriage Preparation.
“This forum is a non-profit organisation dedicated to support and educate men, boys, and fathers, to promote family values and responsible behaviour, that hosted this awareness event,” said Khumsha.
He added that they hosted the event in this area, with the aim of empowering men about the challenges facing the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality.
According to Khumsha, they are also trying to be available in the Great Places so that they can be known.
He said this forum was established in 2012, with the aim of mentoring boys and men.
“Men came in numbers to support this event. We are visiting schools where we educate boys about going to initiation schools.
“We encourage them to wait for the right time, and those who had already gone to the school not to put pressure on others,” said Khumsha.
Chairperson for Youth Development, Pumelele Mzimbambi, said they learnt a lot from this initiative.
He said they want members of SAMFO to come back and host another event because there are men who were not there due to other commitments.
“Among the things that we learnt is that, as parents, we must communicate with our children, more especially boys.
“This can help us to be more open to them about going to initiation school. We must teach them about the consequences of those who go to this school without parents’ consent,” said Mzimbambi.
