AS WE launch the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse campaign, let us do so knowing that the motive behind it is to have a peaceful South Africa, free from abuse.

It is self-evident that this campaign was initiated with the objective of getting rid of unwanted conduct by men who see their women as punching bags and their children as subjects to be abused.

While I call for an end to domestic violence, I also would like to call on women not to abuse their men. Traditionally, the word abuse is associated with men, but this is not always the case.

There are lots of men who are subjected to emotional or physical abuse by their partners, but they are scared to come out.

This might sound a bit untrue, but there are men who have resorted to alcohol abuse as a way of wiping away their tears.

When they realise they have endured enough pain and they can't take it anymore, men end up killing their partners and their kids before killing themselves.

It is when this happens that we, as members of the community, start condemning the man's actions without bothering to check what led to it.

I call upon all men to come out about their abuse to avoid situations where innocent lives of children are taken away.

The police should also treat men with dignity and stop laughing at them when they try to report their abuse ordeals. Community members should not keep quiet when they see abuse and domestic violence. They must act and try to liberate the concerned family.

Let us all support the activism campaign and encourage an abuse-free society.

Reader letter, Malphia Honwane, Gottenburg eManyeleti