MEN’S FORUM
ESTABLISHED

After four years, the DAC has finally launched its DAC Men’s Forum. The event was chaired by the newly appointed chief director for human resource management, Mr Conrad Greve and attended by almost 200 men.

This marks the culmination of behind-the-scenes discussions including both men and women officials who agreed on the need for such a structure. The DAC Men’s Forum aims to provide a platform for men not only to share insights and perspectives on the challenges they face in their lives but to express their concerns and thus help and support one another on pertinent issues.

The first meeting to test the waters on how this development would be received was held on 22 July 2011. It was the preface of the DAC Men’s Forum scheduled to be launched in December 2011 during the “16 Days Campaign Against Women and Children Abuse”.  The launch event featured speakers including Prof Eddy Mhlanga who spoke on men’s health, Willy Letsoalo from Sinethemba Gender & HIV Services on the importance for a men’s forum and Sandile Memela on men and fatherhood.

The programme included exciting poetry renditions by two young male talents, Lehlohonolo Motake and Collen Hlatswayo.

Nearly 185 men attended the event while another 140 – in absentia – pledged their motion of support to the initiative. Those who attended the meeting were able to interact with the newly appointed Chief Director of Human Resource Management, Mr Conrad Greve, who, besides joining the Department recently, chaired the proceedings.