Male police officers in the Eastern Cape have been implored to be exemplary in their work and private lives, in the fight against gender-based violence, to effectively tackle the scourge when victims come to police stations to report such cases.
This was the message from provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene, to male police officers who gathered at Mthatha’s OR Tambo Hall for a ‘Men for Change’ Convention held on May 22.
Men for Change is a structure within the South African Police Service that champions the well-being and personal development of male police officers.
“Men for Change is a platform where male police officers are able to speak openly against topics such as gender-based violence and sexual offences, while also looking at strategies to curb the death of initiates at initiation school.”
“The Men for Change Convention, therefore, becomes very important as it is where delegates get to discuss pertinent issues pertaining to male police officers, and men in general,” said Mene.
Mene said that those in attendance were expected to take the information and resolutions of the convention and instill them among colleagues in their respective districts.
She further said that it was important for male police officers to have a platform where they can speak openly, and come up with ideas to curb social ills such as gender-based violence, as they were part of society when not in uniform.
Men for Change provincial and national chairperson, Colonel Sivuyile Nqapi, added that the conference was also to encourage male police officers who may be victims of gender-based violence to also speak out.
A Men for Change team donated clothes to Bethany Children’s Home in Ikhwezi Township as part of its social responsibility initiatives to mark the end of the convention.
This year’s Men for Change Convention was held under the theme “Uphi Ndoda”.
