The Catholic Men’s Association in partnership with the Men Let’s Talk group hosted a marriage dialogue conference in Kimberely, in the Northern Cape. The aim is to address issues of marriage as a sacrament and gender-based violence (GBV) among other ills that affect marriages. This as part of women’s month commemorations.
Men and women, young and old, including academics, theologians, priests and teachers gathered for the dialogue.
The Convenor of the Dialogue, Gregory Nyongane says the initiative was not another church event but a call to reflect, restore and recommit themselves to the sacred covenant of Holy Matrimony.
“As men, let’s talk, we see lots of attacks on marriages in society, lots of women being killed as well by husbands not respecting the value of marriage. What we say we bring this programme together in order to responsibly say what a family is.”
During his address – one of the panellists revealed that in 2024 there were more than 24 000 divorces in the country. One delegate, Mpho Mona says women should not hide abuse happening in their homes.
“What I would say is especially for women, we should talk about these things, we should open up about these things when it happens talk to someone.”
A Kimberely couple, who has been married for 51 years were also part of the dialogue. Thomas and Liza Nosi emphasised that marriage should not be treated as a contract but a divine institution by God.
“The reason for us to manage this is we have only one person we trust and that is the almighty father,” says Thomas Nosi.
“The recipe, it’s love, trust and respect, it’s only those three things,” adds Liza Nosi.
Recently in Kimberley a 43-year-old Pastor was arrested for allegedly brutally killing his wife following a family dispute. The deceased has since been buried.
Video: Marriage dialogue conference held in Kimberley
