Role of men
discussed at seminar
By Tabisa Mntengwana
17 March 2009
THE challenges facing boys at schools, universities and colleges in today’s world were discussed at the Boys and Men Seminar, hosted by Buffalo City and Masimanyane Women Support Centre.
A group of 150 students, teachers and youth leaders attended the seminar, held at St John’s Church in East London on Friday, 13 March. Among the audience were young girls who had attended to get a better understanding of male issues and difficulties.
Welcoming participants, Buffalo City’s health promotion officer, Boniswa Mzimba, said, “This is a platform where young girls will understand what men go through and also voice out men issues.”
Topics raised on the day included circumcision and understanding women. Mzimba talked about circumcision, including legislation surrounding it, and the traditions of respecting women and children.
Zweliphakamile Dweba, a health officer in the provincial department of health’s traditional services unit, also talked about circumcision. “In the Xhosa tradition, boys have to go through the circumcision process as part of the custom,” he said.
Eastern Cape traditional leaders’ legislation prohibited circumcision of males under the age of 18, Dweba explained, saying the ritual marked the transition from boyhood to manhood.
Question time
Questions were raised by the young participants, such as whether the tradition of circumcision had a place in modern society. Whether circumcision could prevent women and children from being infected with HIV was also discussed, and the actual process of circumcision was thrashed out.
Speaking about the traditions of respecting women and children, Mzimba said: “Young boys have to learn to respect and honour women at a young age in order to be better men and husbands in the future.
“The abuse of women and children is not acceptable; we have seen various kinds of abuse throughout the world, including emotional, physical, sexual, material and financial.”
After a short break, the students and youth leaders were divided into five groups to discuss some of the questions raised earlier in the day. Youth leader Bob Phato said, “The youngsters have to learn respect while they are young and these seminars will help them learn more about their culture and respecting women.”
The day concluded with a group of learners from Sandisiwe High School in Mdantsane singing songs and reciting poetry.
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