Using His Abusive Past To Help Others

He went from being a woman abuser to helping men who are struggling with the same bad behaviour.

- Jane Mokgosi

TUMELO MABENA (33) from Soshanguve, north of Tshwane, is now a different man after being an abusive boyfriend to the women he once dated. He is now a programme facilitator at the Heavenly Defence Form Ministry, a non-governmental organisation that helps women and men to change.

As a facilitator, Tumelo teaches people in his community about gender-based violence, as well as HIV and Aids. The young man also runs programmes called Stepping Stone and One Man Can Do.

LEARNING BAD BEHAVIOUR FROM HOME

His behaviour came as no surprise to him as he grew up seeing his stepfather beating up his mother almost every day.