NDUNAYITHINI – Men and boys from across Sigwe Inkhundla gathered on Thursday for a rare community dialogue that gave voice to their struggles in relationships, emotional health, and gender roles.
Hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office—Department of Gender and Family Issues—in collaboration with the Conference of Churches, the session took place at Ndunayithini and formed part of government’s broader push to curb gender-based violence (GBV) by actively involving men in the conversation.
The dialogue centred on challenging harmful cultural norms and encouraging more nurturing forms of masculinity. Dozens of participants—ranging from elders to young men—spoke openly about what they described as growing emotional neglect and a sense of emasculation within relationships.
Some blamed an increase in alcohol consumption and emotional withdrawal on a perceived rise in infidelity by their partners. Others spoke of lacking the tools to navigate modern relationships, with many calling for support to learn how to be more present, emotionally available partners and engaged fathers.
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