Banna Ba Kae host Potjie Kos Challenge in support of abused women and children

By Graeme Makam

10/03/2018 13:00

Banna Ba Kae Tlokwe's men forum hosted its first ever Potjie Kos challenge in support of abused women and children. The competition came together after various tarven owners around Potchefstroom decided to come forward for a change and restore the image of men in society.
Banna Ba Kae is a Non Profit Organisation that was formed in 2011 and has through the years assisted the community of Potchefstroom in fighting physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, economic abuse and stalking. On saturday the 10th of March 2018, Banna Ba Kae together with its stakeholders hosted a Potjie Kos Challenge in Promosa, an area notorious for its drugs abuse in Potchefstroom, North West. The event was contested by three teams, and was won by Sam Sokol, a group consisting of former drug addicts.

 Banna Ba Kae founder, Mr Kenosi Tlotleng said it was always his passion to raise awareness for women and children, at the same time restoring the imagine of men , “I started this organisation 7 years ago and we still going strong, we want our community to know that there are still men out there who can cook , love and respect our women and children, and we stand firmly against domestic voilence' said Mr Kenosi. Eventual winners Sam Sokol are part of Banna Ba Kae's rehab program, a program described as a progress by Mr Kenosi. “It brings joy in my life seeing people's lives change, a few months ago these boys were drug addicts and today they changing their lives and lives of those around them, to me it's progress and I thank God for that”.


Itumeleng Molefe (27), a member of Sam Sokol was delighted with the event and the cause it represent, “It's good to see such an event organised by men to stand up for women and children rights, coming from a voilenct background, I'm happy to be part of an awareness that makes a difference” said Itumeleng. The 27-year-old says he has always had dreams of becoming a chef, his team's win symbolised that indeed his cooking skills are on point, and he wishes to enroll at a Culinary school someday and to become a professional chef.

 Banna Ba Kae social worker, Kelebogile Moeketsi (28) said even though the event was for abused women and children, the awareness was also to tell men to come forward if they are victims of domestic abuse, “We also would like to encourage men to come forward, we know a lot of men are ashamed to come forward , more especially going to the police station, we encourage them to come to our offices in Ikageng, we work with SAPS and Domestic Voilence Court in assisting victims”.

The aim of the event was to show society that there are responsible men out there and also encourage fathers to be role models to their children. Banna Ba Kae has its own International Men's Day in which they reognise male community leaders and award them, 2017 International Men's Day recipient Mr Sello Cele was also in attendence, whom many described as a true soldier in fighting crime in Ikageng.

 The event was also supported by local Potchefstroom SAPS , JB Marks local municipality, and the North West Provincial Department of Community Safety and Transport Management