Gender initiatives in local Klerksdorp taverns .

Tshepo Mmusi

Gender Based Violence in Klerksdorp is rife, and we are living in a society which has normalized abuse of women. Areas such as Kanana are such that violence in general is the order of the day. Every week a woman is killed as a result of GBV. Jouberton also has its own femicide cases and women are raped at an alarming rate. Most cases of raping of women in Jouberton has an element of taverns. Hence the Justice and Peace in Klerksdorp has prioritized dialogues in taverns as a measure to engage men, to understand the root causes, to conscientize and to changing perceptions.

The dialogues workshop facilitated have proved without doubt that men also need attention to mitigate gender stereotype behavior. Some also need mental health intervention as they are also abused by their spouses, girlfriends and others by their children.

The tarvern intervention has unearthed many factors contributing to men’s behavior. Factors such as unemployment came up as a major challenge because men are complaining that they are unable to provide for their families and that results to them being disrespected by their partners and children.

Drinking culture in taverns also came up strong that men in taverns interact with women with the sole aim that they will after wards have consentual sex and when that does not happen it becomes a problem that leads to fights and violence. Other men come to taverns trying to forget about their domestic problems.

Intervention in rural areas was very unique and it unearthed some of the issues that oppress women. Domestic violence also happens just like in townships i.e. conflicts amongst partners over money, adultery etc. But the most pressing one is forced or arranged relationships and marriages that still persists in rural communities. Rural communities are small in their nature and at times romantic relationships amongst relatives is promoted i.e. cousins in relationships and sometimes uncles and nieces. These relations are normalized in rural communities and they affect young women and girls who are forced to them.

GBV takes different shapes according to different communities set ups. In the process of facilitating the sessions the J&P facilitators who are trained as counselors arranged one on one counselling sessions for those who requested it so that they can find solutions they are looking for.

GBV intervention should not be a once off solution for communities. Continuous engagement, mental developmental programmes should be rolled out on a daily basis for victims and perpetrators should also be treated and justice be served. For us as an organization we are grateful for the Bench Marks Foundation and Brot intervention and wish for continued support in the future.