GOSPEL musician Velenkosini Ntuli is on a mission to root out gender-based violence (GBV) in his home town of Eshowe, northern KZN.
Velenkosini, who has been in the gospel industry since 2004, will host an event on GBV against men, women and children.
The event Umhlobo Wami, Umhlobo Wakho, will take place on Saturday, 26 August, at the Gawozi Hall in Eshowe.
Pastors, cops and musicians will share the stage to raise awareness about GBV.
The 43-year-old musician told Daily Sun that he came up with the idea after nearly becoming a perpetrator of GBV.
"I recently had a tough time where I was having problems and other people fighting me outside my home. I just realised that I was taking that outside anger out on my family because when my family was doing what they normally do, I was becoming angrier," he said.
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He said he just realised men need to speak out about their issues before becoming GBV offenders.
"With this event, I want pastors and cops to explain in depth about what GBV is because some people do it in their homes, but they don't realise that they are doing it," Velenkosini said.
"Pastors will also lead us to escalate our prayers about GBV to God, while the cops will also give a deep explanation of GBV."
Velenkosini said they also want to zoom in on all sides of GBV, even incidents against men.
"It is a fact that many victims of GBV are women and children, and it is totally unacceptable, but there are still men who are facing GBV, which is also unacceptable. It has no place in the community, and we all need to fight to get rid of it," he said.
He said everyone is welcome to join the prayer event and pledge to fight GBV.
Velenkosini has released five gospel albums since he began making music, releasing his debut album Akekho Ofana Naye in 2004 and releasing his fifth album titled Angisoze Ngahlukana Naye in 2022.
