Mapantsula Stand Up For Behavioural Change

Kabelo Boranabi | Monday May 28, 2018 13:23

Over the weekend, the National Pantsula Association in partnership with the United Nations (UN) Women and Girls Affairs, hosted a behavioural change exercise at the Old Naledi grounds.

Speaking to The Monitor on the sidelines of the event, Zola Original Pantsulas' secretary, Ntsima Ntsima said the purpose of the event was to sensitise the people in Townships (or Kasis) about social ills such as violence against women and girls and to encourage them to test for HIV/AIDS. He said the Pantsula subculture is often associated with criminal activities, and as such they had to play a role in the society, by organising the event themed Unearthing Behavioural Change For 2018 and Beyond. “Our culture is often associated with criminal activities, but we also have a role to play.

For this event we are tackling issues that affect the society, especially in townships where most of our followers are. We are tackling issues such as violence against women and girls, alcohol and drug abuse as well as to encourage our fellow brothers and sisters to test for HIV and non-communicable diseases,' he said. He added he was impressed with the turnout, which he said is motivating as the public gradually starts to understand the Pantsula subculture.

Speaking at the event, UN Women and Girls Affairs representative in Botswana, Magdeline Mathiba-Madibela said in the townships, statistics have shown that there are high numbers of incidents that involve gender-based violence. She said the blame finger is often diverted towards the men hence, the need to encourage them to be role models for the next generation.

“The involvement of men in issues that affect women and the girl child is very important. I would like to encourage the men here to play a fatherly role for the children. They should behave in a way that is more desirable for the next generation to copy from them. Men are involved in abuse, but we see them as leaders hence we saw the need to partner with Mapantsula for this activity,” she said. For his part, Old Naledi Kgosi, Arnold Somolekae, encouraged Mapantsula to continue playing a positive role in the society in efforts to destroy the negative perception about the subculture.

Mapantsula will tour the country to spread the positive message, and next week they will be in Serowe.