The Insika Men’s Network hosted its 2024 Insika Men’s Conference under the theme ‘Ubuhle Bendoda Izinqumo Ezakha Isizwe’. The event was held on 3 of October at Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) ML Sultan Campus, the conference aimed to empower male students by addressing critical issues surrounding manhood, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
The event featured insightful contributions from guest speakers, focusing on the challenges men face today and offering solutions for navigating them successfully.
Initiated in 2019, the Insika Men’s Conference was created as a platform for male students to engage in meaningful discussions about manhood, and to reshape harmful stereotypes often associated with masculinity. The conference has grown and continues to be a vital resource for mentorship and emotional guidance.
As Amahle Khumalo, the advisor of the Insika Men’s Network, explained, “It’s a program that looks at how a male should behave and is about growing one another while we are still in university. We are also trying to contribute to the transformation of today’s men because we don’t want today’s generation to be like the old generation that was stereotyped, saying men don’t cry,” he said.
Khumalo emphasized the broader impact the conference seeks to achieve. “We saw that many of us males grew up in different backgrounds and when we get to varsity, some of us end up doing wrong things. Others end up not achieving their goals, which is why we saw the need for Insika Men’s Network. This initiative is more like a platform where we help grow one another and rectify the mistakes made by our forefathers,” he noted.
One of the event’s keynote speakers, Pastor Zondo, shared a powerful message about emotional control and decision-making. He stressed the importance of thinking clearly before acting, especially in moments of anger. “You must not decide while you are angry because the words you utter when angry are hurtful and unforgettable,” Zondo advised. Reflecting on the role of father figures, he added, “We were here today to groom men from boys because some of them lack a father figure in their lives. We want to be their support system before they make mistakes that cannot be undone.”
Zondo’s words resonated deeply with the students.
Busiso Mpanza, one of the attendees, found the advice particularly meaningful. “As a young growing man, you need to have a vision and set goals of where you are going and also learn how to navigate your goals,” Mpanza said. “The most important lesson I took from Pastor Zondo was that you should never make decisions when you are angry because you can’t take back the hurtful words you say in those moments. That stuck with me.”
Comedian and Social media personality Sphelele Ndlebe also known as uCaptain Wamajita also contributed, focusing on the importance of mentorship and guidance for young men, especially those without father figures.
“Many of these young men are raised by single parents, and they lack that male voice or push in life,” he explained. Drawing from his work running a rehabilitation center for young men struggling with substance abuse, Ndlebe noted, “There are certain conversations a young male needs to have with a father or another male, man-to-man conversations. This conference is very important because it provides that opportunity.”
Banele Ngcobo, Chairperson of the Insika Men’s Network, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the event.
“Today’s conference focused on the problems faced by male students and advising them on how to tackle these problems. I strongly believe that the tactics and skills they have learned today will be beneficial to them and help them become better men,” Ngcobo said. Reflecting on the success of the event, he added, “The attendance was much higher than expected, and the students stayed until the end, which shows that they were engaged and pleased with the conversations.”
The Insika Men’s Conference continues to be a key event for male students at DUT, providing them with the support, guidance, and mentorship needed to navigate life’s challenges. As Amahle Khumalo put it, “This initiative is about painting a beautiful picture of a male in our society and helping these young men achieve their goals.”
Journalist: Kwanele Khanye & Mthokozisi Dlamini