Mbabane: PLS football players and coaches have joined hands and challenged men to act in the wake of the spate of violence and abuse against women that has sparked anger in the country following the death of University of Cape Town student Uyinene Mrwetyana.
The UCT student was reported to be raped and murdered in Cape Town last week after visiting a Post Office, and a worker at the postal service has since appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates Court in connection with the crime.
PSL club Cape Town City have released a statement indicating they will use their next Absa Premiership game against Golden Arrows at Cape Town Stadium on September 22 to honour the memory of the slain teenager. ”Our thoughts and prayers are with all during this time. The club will play its next home game in Cape Town in honour of her memory.”
Former Platinum Stars and Bidvest Wits defender Vuyo Mere has since urged men to take a stand against women abuse and violence. “Growing up without a mother or sister or not having a female companion in your life doesn’t give you the right or excuse to treat women badly,” said Mere. “Women deserve respect like any other being. Women play such a vital role in our lives and we need to stop treating them like sex objects. To all real brothers, let’s take a stand against males that hurt our lovely mothers, sisters, girlfriends and wives. Enough is enough.”
Orlando Pirates development coach Augusto Palacios echoed Mere’s sentiment. “South African men must stand up and do better and make our society better. Women in our country should not be asking #AmINext. Violence against our women and children is not acceptable. Stop the anger, stop the hatred, stop the abuse,” said Palacios.
Polokwane City midfielder Edgar Manaka also called on men to protect women and children against any form of abuse. “I urge all men to stand up against women and children abuse. No to women abuse. Women are being abused and raped by people who should protect them and as men we should stand up and say enough is enough.”
Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lebohang Maboe “Let’s protect mothers, let’s protect our sisters, aunts and every woman in our country, let’s keep children safe,” Maboe tells KickOff.com. “Knowing that gender-based violence is a threat to peace and security in our country right now, we don’t want to see our women walking around feeling unsafe and threatened.” Women in South Africa are currently living in fear because of the danger they find themselves in everywhere they go, and Maboe believes it is about time the whole country came together to make sure women are comfortable and safe. “They deserve a life of respect, dignity and freedom. Let’s stop the violence against women and children, let’s protect them.”
Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns defender Asavela Mbekile has posed several thought-provoking questions in an open letter to South Africans.
He said many look up to, to rebuke the ills mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and families are faced with at present. “I am sorry that I’ve put fear into your life. I am sorry that you feel unsafe around me even though I was meant to love and care for you,” wrote Mbekile.
“I am sorry that I am the reason for your death even though you gave birth to me. I am ashamed to call myself a man when so many of you are dying because of these hands. “Your tears weren’t what we were supposed to see. I was raised by a strong woman [sis Thandi] who had nothing but did everything in her power to make sure I had everything.
“I have nothing but love from her, now I fear that she may go to the shops and never come back. I worry about my cousins too. When they go out to meet their friends and partners, I am worried that it may be the last time I see them. “I am left with so many questions: Will I see them again? Do I wave goodbye? I worry about my beautiful wife when she goes to work. “Work or at home these women are not safe. What is the future without women? Who will care for us when they are not around?
“Who will point us in the right direction when we are lost or confused? What have they done to deserve so much hate and violence from us? “I know these are difficult and unbearable times for you. I also know that you don’t trust me, but I am with you. Even though I will never know your pain, your cry keeps me awake at night.
“I beg you South Africa to stop this violence against the only people who have nothing but love for all of us.” Concluded Mbekile.
Kaizer Chiefs star midfielder Lebogang Manyama feels not all men know how to be men, as he issued an important message on the fight against gender-based violence. “I think every man knows how to treat a woman, but what I don’t think is that every man knows how to be a man,” Manyama told KCTV.
“You know how to take care of your woman, and what makes your woman happy and what pisses her off, but the problem is we tend to want to make them the way we visualize what we want a woman to be like – that’s impossible, it’s impossible to own her in this world.
“And I think certain guys don’t like to… how can I say… not [be] overpowered but to be questioned in judgments, in terms of them wanting to have the final say. It’s impossible, I think, if you want to have the final say then it’s much better if you live alone.
“So many guys just go into stuff without thinking [about] if they are ready to be men, because if you bring another person into your life, then you must know that it comes with a whole lot of sacrifices.
“You must understand that your anger cannot go towards somebody that you say you love, it’s impossible.”
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for the latest news:
Join Now
Discussion about this post