The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, in partnership with the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) and Department of Social Development, have launched the Men's Parliament Programme of Action 2020-22.
The launch took place in a hybrid meeting at the Gauteng Department of Social Development Head Office in Johannesburg, last Thursday.
The 2020 to 2022 Men's Parliament Programme of Action, which was held under the theme "Takuwani Riime - Institutionalising a Responsive Men's Movement and civil society. This year's sitting follows the two national Men's Parliaments, held in 2018 and 2020.
Addressing the hybrid meeting, Social Development, Deputy Minister, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu said, "One of the lessons of sitting for hours in the company of men is that it is important that we become thoughtful not to displace men as we call for gender equality."
Bogopane-Zulu also reflected on the previous biennial national Men's Parliament that was held in 2020, she said that one of the things men addressed at the sitting was that they are losing their dignity, given that some cannot fund their children's education nor put food on the table because of unemployment.
"I have learned that an unemployed man is an angry man. It does not matter how many workshops or sessions they can attend, if we don't ensure that men become economically empowered, in some way we are going to have a problem," she said.
Bogopane-Zulu further called on men to be present in the livelihood of their children, saying "We cannot expect boys to know how to be husbands and fathers, when they themselves have not seen this".
Speaking at the same event, the Gauteng Social Development, MEC Morakane Mosupyoe, encouraged the men's sector to be instrumental in fighting gender-based violence and femicide.
"Men's forums must be more visible. As Gauteng, our core vision should be to ensure that all five (5) regions are reached" added Mosupyoe.
The Men's Parliament is aimed at assisting to develop and coordinate the Men Championing Change Programme to reach the targeted population of men and boys' formations across the country.
This includes building strategic partnerships and alliance with different stakeholders and development agencie on issues including GBV, social cohesion, crime, substance abuse and men's health.