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Gender-based violence (GBV) is widely recognised as a serious human rights issue; however, the experiences of male victims remain largely overlooked and underreported. This study explores the silent and often ignored reality of GBV against men within the Polokwane Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. While dominant narratives frequently position GBV as violence perpetrated by men against women, this research sheds light on the growing, yet muted, phenomenon of male victimisation. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were gathered from ten purposively selected participants through semi-structured interviews, including an in-depth session with a key informant. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the findings. The study reveals that male victims frequently suffer psychological abuse, emotional neglect, and social isolation. Deeply entrenched gender norms, societal expectations of masculinity, and fear of stigma significantly hinder men from seeking help. Furthermore, a lack of targeted support services and a predominant focus of existing GBV frameworks on women and children leaves male survivors marginalised. This research emphasises the need for inclusive and gender-sensitive interventions, including awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and the development of support systems responsive to male experiences. By highlighting these gaps, the study contributes to a broader and more equitable understanding of GBV, advocating for policies that support all survivors, regardless of gender.

Domestic violence remains a pervasive social and criminological challenge in South Africa, particularly in rural and semi-rural communities where structural inequalities, patriarchal norms and limited institutional support heighten women’s vulnerability. While domestic violence research has traditionally positioned women as victims, emerging evidence indicates that some female survivors transition into perpetrators. This qualitative study, conducted in the Seshego policing area of Limpopo Province, investigates the contributory factors underpinning this transition. Using purposive and snowball sampling, data were collected from the Twelve (25) women who had moved from victimhood to perpetration, five subject-matter experts, and ten decided domestic violence case files. The data were analysed thematically to uncover the intersecting personal, relational, socio-economic and cultural forces that shape this trajectory. Guided by Trauma Theory, Strain Theory, Feminist Theory and Social Learning Theory, the study develops a Conceptual Criminological Model that illustrates how unresolved psychological trauma, coercive control, economic dependency, patriarchal ideologies and intergenerational exposure to violence converge to influence women’s pathways into reactive or defensive offending. The findings reveal that women’s violent actions are rarely premeditated; rather, they often emerge from accumulated trauma, persistent institutional failures, limited access to support services and constrained agency within oppressive environments and this study highlights critical gaps in policing responses, justice-system implementation, economic opportunities and trauma-informed care in rural contexts such as Seshego. It recommends multi-sectoral interventions including strengthened legal enforcement, community-based awareness programmes, culturally sensitive prevention strategies, trauma-informed psychosocial services and economic empowerment initiatives aimed at reducing women’s dependency on abusive partners. By centring women’s lived experiences and examining the structural conditions that shape their actions, this research contributes to criminological scholarship and supports the development of holistic, context-specific strategies to prevent domestic violence and break cycles of intergenerational harm in South Africa.

Domestic violence is a deeply troubling and pervasive problem that affects individuals and families across the globe. Law enforcement agencies play a pivotal role in responding to domestic violence incidents, tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved. This study aimed to investigate the situational factors that shape police officers’ decision-making processes when responding to domestic violence cases. The study used a qualitative approach and an exploratory case study design. Five police officers dealing with domestic violence matters were sampled through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from police officers. In adherence to national COVID-19 regulations, data were gathered through individual telephone interviews until saturation was reached. The data collected were analysed thematically. The findings revealed how organisational procedures, the type of abuse reported, the availability of witnesses, the behaviour of the perpetrator, and the victim’s statement influence police responses to domestic violence. In conclusion, this study has shed light on the multifaceted factors that significantly influence police officers’ decision-making processes when dealing with domestic violence incidents and their subsequent approaches to reported cases. Understanding these factors is crucial for enhancing law enforcement strategies, training, and policies to better serve and protect victims in such cases.

South Africa has been battling the scourge of the COVID-19 Pandemic which has negatively affected many individuals and families. The South African government imposed a national lockdown to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the lockdown also brought more challenges such as increased violence cases. Against this background, this study sought to analyse the COVID-19 lockdown and domestic violence in South Africa. A non-empirical research design was used where documents from search engines such as Google scholar, EBSCOhost and ProQuest were sampled and reviewed using keywords and phrases related to COVID-19, lockdown and domestic violence to filter relevant data, restricted to 2002-2022. The inductive Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) was used to analyze the collected data. Findings reveal that the South African Lockdown has contributed to the rise of domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results further indicate that victims of domestic violence face psychosocial challenges due to domestic violence. Programs that are aimed at creating awareness and empowering victims of domestic violence are recommended by this study. It is further recommended that policies protecting citizens against domestic violence be reviewed and strengthened.

Globally, alcohol use is an important public health concern which often contributes to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV/F), Femicide and Gender Based Violence (GBV). Interfacing of alcohol use and intimate partner violence in under-resourced and rural areas has received little empirical attention and interventions for enlightening the crisis of IPV and related social ills. This paper explored the nexus between alcohol use and intimate partner violence in under-resourced and rural areas. The study employed a qualitative, exploratory multiple case study design. Purposive, snowballing and convenience sampling techniques were employed. The study was cleared ethically by the registered body at the university. Data was analysed thematically. This study found that the majority of the cases showed a linkage between intimate partner violence and substance abuse incidents. It can be concluded that the availability and affordability of alcohol play a role in IPV. Awareness campaigns about the linkage between substance abuse and IPV should be implemented.