KZN Health MEC hits out against "Eyababili Ayingenwa Syndrome"; calls for more action on gender-based vilence as she launches ambitious "Ikhosomba Lamajita" men's health awareness and moral regeneration programme

01 March 2020

KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu has hit out against “Eyababili Ayingenwa” syndrome, a widely prevalent notion that warring couples should be left alone to resolve their differences without the intervention of a third party.

Speaking during the launch of “Ikhosomba Lamajita” (Young Men’s Corner) programme at Esikhaleni, King Cetshwayo District yesterday, MEC Simelane-Zulu pleaded with society to stop looking away while women were being murdered or hurt when trying to extricate themselves from undesirable relationships.

“When people enter into a relationship, they do so on an equal basis. There must not be one who loves the other more. When love runs out, from either the man or woman, people must be free to go their separate ways. A man who beats up a woman in order to prove his ‘strength’ is not a man. Those who beat up women are known in our society. But if we keep quiet and not report it to the police, tomorrow, your own sister or daughter will become a victim. Let us stop Gender-Based Violence. Let us fight it. Let us stand up and say’, ‘enough is enough.’ It must never happen to another woman. If we don’t stop it now, you don’t know how far it will go. Let us take Gender-Based Violence seriously, so that we can be a positive, happier and prosperous society,” she said

Explaining how the concept of Ikhosomba Lamajita came about, MEC Simelane-Zulu said: “Our intention is to bring health services to the men who don't utilise our healthcare services early enough. When we sat and looked at the demographical breakdown of people who come to our facilities, we realised that there were very few men. Men just don’t like coming to our facilities. We realised that if they do not come, then the resources that we spend on health will keep on increasing."

"Therefore, we had to find ways of going to where men are. It is very important to target men because they need to get screened and tested for ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, and HIV/AIDS… If a man has prostate cancer but doesn’t come forward early, it will lend up killing them, whereas if we had detected it early, their chances of successful treatment would have been higher.”"

The launch of Ikhosomba Lamajita was well-received, with young men attending in large numbers. MEC Simelane-Zulu first led a delegation to local taverns, shisanyamas, and other “corners” where young men congregate. She was warmly received, and proceeded to engage with youth, distributing calendars, and imparting knowledge about disease prevention.

The MEC was accompanied by City of Umhlathuze Mayor Cllr Mduduzi Mhlongo, King Cetshwayo District Mayor Nonhle Mkhulisi and programme ambassadors - actors Melusi Yeni, Brenda Mhlongo and Nhlanhla Vezi of Brothers For Life. She shared urged the young men to respect themselves, as well as women and children.

The MEC then returned to the community engagement venue, a street, which had been transformed to have a buoyant atmosphere, characterised by pulsating dance music played by various DJs. Teams participated in street soccer, while others played board games such as umrabaraba, chess, and card games. The crowd later indulged in succulent steak from the braai.

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This page last edited on 02 March, 2020

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