Return to family values to curb GBVF

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA – Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi shared a heartfelt message that emphasized that returning to family values will help to curb the rise of cases of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

Addressing Phuthaditjhaba residents recently, Mahlatsi said the root cause of many social ills is the dysfunctionality of the family and a lack of family values.
He said the health sector has decided to work as a family unit because family members are always there for each other and don’t hurt each other, instead they love and protect each other.

He was speaking during the interdenominational mass prayer meeting against GBV at the multipurpose hall in Phuthaditjhaba led by female pastors Suzan Lakaje and Brenda Motloung.

Department of Health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi next to HOD Godfrey Mahlatsi with health care practitioners.

“Women are often vulnerable to GBV that is why our plan as a department is to help and support women because they need special focus. The department of health has observed that the root cause of our social ills is the dysfunctionality and disunity of the basic unit of our society, which is the family. Our families lack the warmth and comfort that is necessary so that we can raise our kids in the right way and as adults to receive the warmth and support that we need. What we are saying is that you cannot give something that you don’t have. You cannot give love if you don’t have love.

“That is why we have started to practice the concept that as coworkers in the health sector to work as a family and we should encourage our clients, our patients who come to us for help to take care of and protect their families because if we could get the basic unit of society right, which is a family, a lot of things that are wrong in our communities will come right. If we can be able to reconnect the family a lot of our challenges will be solved,” Mahlatsi said in his keynote address.