Cape Town - Tavern owners in Khayelitsha are set to meet to discuss how they can contribute to ending the scourge of GBV.
The Liquor Traders Association, Distell and Police Minister Bheki Cele held a dialogue with residents on Thursday on the role men needed to play in ending violence against women.
Local businessman Simo Vananda said traders would meet and discuss ways of educating their consumers about GBV.
“Such events which deal with the abuse of women and children are very important and it includes the whole community.
“Most of the time women are being abused by drunk people and that is where we come in as traders because this affects us too.
“As traders we need to work together with anti-GBV NGOs and also with the government. Our role is to engage our customers and we need to have strict rules and regulations and also abide by the rules of the Liquor Board. Our customers need to be educated about the responsibilities and how to behave when or after consuming alcohol,” said Vananda.
Liquor Traders Association spokesperson Lucky Mtimane urged residents, local traders and SAPS to work closely together.
“We will keep fighting to make sure that they are part of the conversations so that we can be able to make difference in our society,” said Mtimane Cele said: “We have met the leadership of the alcohol industry and there are a few things that we believe can be done rather than spending time fighting.
“One thing that we call for is the proper education on how to use alcohol socially. Tavern owners should use at least 30 minutes of their time to educate people and tell them about the danger of illegal weapons at taverns.
“Women are human beings and they too have human rights. This thing of men thinking that it is their responsibility to protect women must come to an end.
“(This is) because once you think that you need to protect her, you end up regarding her as your pet; and women are not pets. Women need to be allowed to grow and fly high and most of them fly high better than men when it comes to leadership.
“Women are not commodities. Men should stop the mentality of thinking that because you bought her something to drink, she must go and sleep with you,” said Cele.
Cape Times