Last week I received a call from Pastor Munyai, a regular reader of my column. After introducing himself, he went straight to the point:
“My friend, I feel I need to correct your line of thinking. Your stories seem biased, as if all GBV cases are caused by women. You even use biblical examples to prove your point. But let me tell you, most of the problems we face today are caused by men — from politics and the economy to crime, drug and alcohol abuse. Men are responsible for many of society’s failures. For the sake of time, let’s limit our discussion to GBV.”
He continued: “Do you know that behind every cheating woman there’s a man? These are men who knowingly enter into these forbidden relationships. Just last year, the South African Police Service released crime statistics showing an alarming number of rape cases.”
The pastor then pulled out his phone and read from the figures.
“In 2025 alone, 30,817 rapes were reported to the SAPS, representing a rate of 51 per 100,000 people. Yet only a fraction of these cases resulted in convictions. And remember, rape is overwhelmingly committed by men, not the other way round.”
Pastor Munyai’s voice grew heavier.
“How many funerals have we attended for women who were killed by their husbands or boyfriends? I am not saying women are angels — we know of people like Rosemary Ndlovu, who plotted to kill members of her own family for financial gain. But painting all women with the same brush is unfair. Look at how women spend their money: they sacrifice for their children. Even when they have nothing, some will steal or sell their bodies just to feed them. Men, on the other hand, often abandon their families for other women, forgetting their own children. Yet even those women may exploit these men to provide for their own children. Mothers will go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their children are cared for.”
After a long pause, he continued.
“Think about your own mother. Without her sacrifices, you wouldn’t be here today. Many households are headed by single mothers, not single fathers. God placed something unique in women. Have you seen how a mother hen fights off predators to protect her chicks? The rooster is nowhere to be found, off chasing another mate. That’s the metaphor I want you to remember: women are protectors, nurturers and fighters. Appreciate them.”
Finally, he pointed out another reality.
“Look at our churches and community development gatherings — women fill the seats, eager to build stronger communities. Meanwhile, many men spend their time in shebeens and taverns, wasting their strength in places that destroy rather than uplift. This contrast should tell you something about where true commitment often lies.”
And with that, Pastor Munyai ended the call.
VKRA Closing Remarks
Pastor Munyai’s words are a sobering reminder that we cannot ignore the sacrifices of women or deny the destructive role many men play in GBV and other social challenges. His message is not that women are beyond reproach, but that men must take greater responsibility for their actions. The crime statistics and the countless funerals of women killed by intimate partners underscore the urgency of this challenge.
Let us honour our mothers, sisters and daughters not only with words, but by creating homes and communities where they are safe and respected. Real strength lies not in domination, but in responsibility, sacrifice and care.