He is one-third of Pennywhistling brothers, Kwela Tebza who have since hibernated from the music scene. Tebogo Lerole is now an advocate for men's and women's rights. He runs his thriving Mzansi Act Now initiative with his siblings, which tackles issues of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, ends GBVF and societal Ills in communities and champions for safer spaces. "We are about the ability to amplify voices of the voiceless, change the mindset of men at large and the recreation and conversion of hotspots into safer spaces," Tebogo tells ZiMoja. "We are not of the superman clan, but we believe that our contribution will unearth a positive attitude amongst our communities."
CLIMBING FOR CHANGE
This year marks three years of running the Hike Against GBVF. They gather a group of like-minded people and hike for a change. "The programme has grown immensely. "We started with 20 people hiking and now we have a group of 250 participants per hike," he adds. "We have seen corporate companies and government taking part in the Hike Against GBVF."
MEN AND CHANGE
At the end of 2023, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported that South Africa recorded 10,516 rapes, 1,514 cases of attempted murder, and 14,401 assaults against female victims. Tebogo says, "Men are largely the missing element and force needed to conquer GBVF. The sooner men start taking a stand and accountability for their actions, the quicker we will end violence targeted at women," he says. "We need to advance programs that change the behaviour of men who are perpetrators of these heinous crimes and by rallying more men as GBVF ambassadors we will advance quick the war on GBVF. We need more men to take up active citizenship roles or local hero roles. The young boys growing up need men to look up to as role models."
ENCOURAGING VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
Tebogo says his initiative wish to encourage victims and survivors of GBVF to speak out and have their voices heard. "It's high time we stop harbouring animals within our communities. Any man who is an abuser needs to seek counselling before they harm the next person," he says. "We are seeing more communities responding and signing up for the cause, people of all ages are rising and forming community policing structures that groom and improve men and boys to become responsible members of the community."
