Schoolboys say lack of support is discouraging

Some boys at M.H. Baloyi Secondary School claim they don’t see the value in living dignified lives because they don’t have support from society.

The learners were part of a march to highlight challenges young boys face, which was held under the Boys Matter Movement’s umbrella in Winterveld. It united hundreds of young boys from M.H. Baloyi and I.R. Lesolang Secondary Schools, as well as Siamisang and Manamelong Primary Schools.

A Grade 11 scholar at the school, Thabo Khoza, says he consumes alcohol because he is underprivileged and no one is taking the initiative to help him.

He claims that, while he is aware that he has the potential to accomplish greatness as an individual, the fact that there is no one to support him is too discouraging.

He claims that many people refuse to support them because they are perceived as thugs.

“There is nothing we can do because there are no scouts in this poverty we live in. When we go out for drives, sponsors say they don’t want kids from Winterveld because they are a lot of thugs. But a lot of us we are not thugs and we don’t use drugs. Some end up doing drugs and drink alcohol because people have already perceived us as people who do such,” says Khoza.

He also says he stopped playing football, which he used to enjoy, since the sport in his community has become stagnant.

Participants in the march clutched banners to raise awareness about substance misuse in local communities and advocate for safer and healthier living conditions, with police and emergency personell present to monitor the situation.

Speakers from various professions were also invited and addressed the boys on various issues.

The founders of the Boys Matter Movement say they hope the Winterveld community works together to find a sustainable solution to the challenges male children contend with.

One of the founders of the Boys’ Matter Movement, Rami Rakau, believes that society must play a part in making boys feel validated, especially as the empowerment of women has been a buzzing word in democratic South Africa due to patriarchy and the racial, social and sexual oppression girl children also endured during apartheid.

He believes that while empowering girl children is a must – boys shouldn’t be left to their own devices.

“There is a home and it’s a movement called Boys Matter. Let us as parents, stake holders, and church leaders tackle these issues faced by the boy child. This is for the boys to know that they are special and that we see and acknowledge them, so that all the issues that they face regarding GBV, masculinity, and academics, amongst other things, can be dealt with,” says Rakau.

Rakau’s colleague, Jimmy Mthombeni, claims that some of the boys in their movement are so disadvantaged that they even lack basic necessities like toiletries and school uniforms, which often leads them to becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.

“The boy child feels left alone and neglected that’s why they resort to drug usage, crime, alcohol abuse and other ill behaviour. We want to support the boy child and ensure that he gets the love he deserves as a child to grow up to be a responsible and reliable citizen and father in future,” says Mthombeni.

The female president of M.H. Baloyi Secondary School, Masego Maluleke, believes the Boys Matter Movement march will be extremely beneficial in combating GBV and femicide.

Maluleke, who is a grade 12 student at M.H. Baloyi Secondary School, claims that boys who feel acknowledged are better able to realise their full potential and therefore contribute meaningfully to society.

She believes today’s march will contribute significantly to the development of more kinder and understanding males towards women and girls in society.

“As women I think it’s also going to help us in a way that many boys and men, especially in our area – we come from disadvantaged backgrounds where we experience violence everyday – will be more kinder and understanding. They will know how to treat girls and women. Some boys have witnessed their parents become victims of GBV and grow up thinking it’s normal and then do the same to us girls,” adds Maluleke.

Some of the Boys Matter Movement’s march say the event brought them hope.

“This was a great event because it will help the boy child to express their emotions and feelings. It will actually change their mindset and help shape their future. These days some boys do drugs, steal, and love sex. They don’t care about their books. This event will help them discover their true selves and who they would like to be in life,” says Tshiamo Masanabo, a Grade 12 learner who attended and watched the event. Written by Odirile Rabolao