Women’s Day Celebration
Tebogo Dikale
Tebogo Dikale
Province North West
District Bojanala
Municipality Rustenburg
Town Phokeng
Date 17 Aug 2024
Women’s Day Celebration
Women’s Month in South Africa which is August, has a variety of events. Alke Foundation took on an opportunity to raise awareness on GBV (Gender Based Violence) on the 10th of August 2024 and hosted their event at the tavern called Tshepi in Phokeng Lemenong section.
When Alice, the founder of the Alke Foundation approached Tshepi, who is the tavern owner to host an event such as this one of GBV. He agreed on the spot and I am told he sponsored the event. He spoke to his customers about the event on a particular day at the very tavern. To my surprise, everyone behaved when the event started, to the end considering its location and environment.
The topic was around addressing this matter of violence against women, it was about Gender dialogue. Women came and had their say on how they felt around the tavern, and they also raised a couple of issues in terms of being safe when having fun. Men also came in numbers, particularly the elderly mostly.
One speaker Mme Ntente, a teacher by profession, took the stage and spoke about the behavior of kids where she is teaching. Addressing how kids see their parents behave in front of them translates to other kids in the form of bullying at her school. She then asked parents not to argue in front of their kids, and to avoid fighting as it affects them and end up growing up to be violent.
Another female, Thando addressed the audience about her ordeal in terms of raising a boy child saying “It is difficult at times as I am not sure if I am doing the right thing or not. The challenge of not working, absent father in the upbringing of my child, and his behavior. I am scared of my child growing to be violent. What worries me mostly is, maybe if I was employed the situation would be better”.Added Thando.
Thabo, who works at Eskom and is not a permanent resident in Phokeng, residing in Mahikeng also raised his views.
*Safety around taverns
*Agreement between man & woman if there’s an exchange of buying alcohol at the tavern
*Tavern owners must create a friendly environment for women
*Men must be involved in organizations such as Alke to help other men talk about their challenges, be at home or economic challenges
He (Thabo) asked Alke Foundation not to be a one-day event as he wants to join in and help men deal with GBV, concluded Thabo.
Boitumelo raised one factor which is the ‘economic challenge’ that women are facing. Saying “If more women can be employed, violence against them can be reduced because they won’t be dependent on Men”. Give an example of Impala, for instance, if it hires more women and gives them a chance in the workspace. He went on to say “Women are stronger on building a strong foundation on kids, if we as men turn violent against them we are our enemies”. We must create a safe environment for women to walk freely in a space such as a tavern where the event is held.