The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) hosted a Men's Dialogue last Wednesday to encourage men to be role players in ending the scourge of Gender-based Violence (GBV).
Speaking to more than 1000 men at Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, Premier David Makhura said men who use culture to justify brutal masculinity must be called to the book.
"Some men do things that only benefit themselves and then say it is in their culture to do so. We must confront these problems and address social norms, power relations and ensure that we build a society in which men and women live together in peace," said Makhura.
He added that some of the underlying sources of GBV were issues of power relations and resources.
"Some of the hidden causes of violence against women by men is when a woman works and earns money while the man earns less or has been retrenched or doesn't work," he said.
Makhura said that while empowering girls and women was necessary, boys should not be left out.
"If we raise our boys so that they feel left out, there will be a problem later. If they are left behind, they will end up in prison doing robberies and killing people because they are not making it in life," added Makhura.