Academic literature on the topic 'Incest victims – South Africa – Limpopo'

Background: Teenage pregnancy is a global social health concern especially because of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, sexually transmitted infections, high rate of termination of pregnancy (TOP), adolescents’ parenthood and decreased level of contraceptives.Aim: To explore the views of teenagers on the TOP at Muyexe high school in a rural village of Mopani District, Limpopo Province.Setting: Muyexe high school in a rural village of Mopani District, Limpopo Province, in South Africa.Methodology: A qualitative method using explorative and descriptive designs was used to find in-depth description and understanding of teenagers’ views on TOP. The target population was girls aged 15–19 years at Muyexe high school in Mopani District. Non-probability, convenient sampling was used to select high school teenage girls who had undergone TOP for the study. Data were collected using individual self-report technique (interview). Tesch’s eight steps of qualitative data analysis were used. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations were observed.Results: Two major themes were revealed: (1) Views of teenagers regarding TOP (poverty, relationship problems and single parenthood, negative impact on the teen’s life while attending school) and (2) teenager’s fears regarding pregnancy (stigma, fear of parents and friends, rape and incest and fear of giving birth).Conclusion: Majority of participants had knowledge about TOP; some had experiences about TOP while others held inadequate knowledge. Recommendations were based on the findings by teaching dangers of TOP and various contraceptive methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies and TOP.Keywords: Views, teenagers and termination of pregnancy

This article examines experiences of men who are victims of gender-based violence where women are perpetrators. There are masculinity expectations that if a man is in pain, he is not allowed to show his agony or cry in public, as suggested in the Sepedi proverb Monna ke nku o llela teng. These expectations make it difficult for male victims of domestic violence to report the abuse. Gender-based violence has to do with the abuse that is suffered by partners who are in relationships. This violence includes, but is not limited to physical, sexual, psychological, economic harm, and includes actions such as threats and coercion. Men usually do not speak out about their experiences due to the stigma attached to them being victims of female-perpetrated domestic abuse, as this study has shown. This article is based on the study of men who reported their experiences of abuse at the hands of their partners. The study was conducted in Vuwani within the Makhado Local Municipality, Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. The data showed that male victims of domestic violence are reluctant to speak out about their ordeal due to fear of being ridiculed by significant others in the society, such as their family members, peers and police officials.

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of the North, 2001
This study is an investigation into the sexual attitudes of incest abuse perpetrators in the Northern Province and attitudes towards their victims (South Africa). Forty-two convicted male incest abuse perpetrators and forty-two professional males nonperpetrators (as control group) participated in the study. The Hanson Sex Attitude Questionnaire was administered to both incest abuse perpetrators and professional males ' nonperpetrator (as control group) to compar':' their attitudes. The questionnaire includes: Sexual Entitle ment scale, Sexy-Children scale, Frustration scale, Affair scale, Sex/ Affection-Confusion scale. and Sexual-Harm scale. A quantitative research approach was followed in the study. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyze the responses. Compared to the control group, the incest abuse perpetrators showed deviant negative attitudes in all the scales : (a) endorsing attitudes supportive to sexua l en title ment, (b) perceiving children to be sexually attractive, (c) being sexually frustrated in their life, (d) confusing sex with affection, (e) minimizing the harm caused by sexual abuse of childre n, and (t) accepting extra-marital affairs. Thus the attitudes of incest abuse perpetrators are significantly unfavorable to the victims. The researcher recommends psychological intervention for the perpetrators to help them adjust to their societal expectations. More job opportunities should be created in the province.

Thesis (LLM)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to determine standards or criteria to be used when deciding on the optimal use of the criminal sanction and to evaluate the efficacy of such criteria by applying them to an existing crime, namely incest. Since criminal punishment necessarily impacts negatively on the human rights of those subject to it, it is submitted that it should only be used as a last resort where it is absolutely necessary to do so. Relevant constitutional provisions and other legal sources are examined and used as the basis for expounding a test for determining the circumstances under which it is appropriate to criminalise. It is argued that the decision to utilise the criminal sanction may be tested against certain guidelines: the state bears the burden of showing, firstly, that the rationale of the crime in question is theoretically justifiable in that criminalisation serves a worthy state purpose; and secondly, that criminalisation is reasonable, being both practically desirable and effective in achieving legitimate state goals in the least restrictive manner possible. In the second part of the thesis, the proposed criteria are applied to the common law crime of incest. An initial discussion of the crime indicates that a wide range of conduct is punishable as incest, including both extremely harmful conduct, such as the rape of a child by her father, and completely innocuous behaviour, for instance private sexual intercourse between consenting adults who are merely related by marriage. Next, an attempt is made to ascertain the true rationale for criminalising incest and then to establish whether such rationale is justifiable. The conclusion is reached that despite there being good grounds for punishing certain manifestations of incest, the only reason for imposing criminal punishment that is valid in all instances, is the unconvincing contention that the state is justified in prohibiting incest merely because incest is regarded as morally abhorrent. And even assuming that targeting and preventing undesirable forms of harmful or offensive conduct is a justifiable purpose of the incest prohibition, it is nevertheless submitted that criminalising incest is unreasonable, since the crime as it is presently formulated is both over- and under-inclusive for the effective realisation of any praiseworthy aims. After testing incest against the criteria developed, the recommendation is made that incest be decriminalised. It is contended that there are sufficient alternative criminal prohibitions available that would adequately punish harmful incestuous conduct without simultaneously unreasonably limiting the rights of consenting adults to choose their sexual (or marriage) partner without state interference. Decriminalisation would not only prevent potential violations of human rights, but the legitimacy of the criminal justice system as a whole would be considerably enhanced if it were apparent that the criminal sanction was reserved for conduct truly deserving of punishment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oogmerk van hierdie studie is om standaarde of riglyne daar te stel ter aanwending waar besluit word oor die optimale benutting van die strafsanksie, asook om die doeltreffendheid van sulke riglyne vas te stel deur die toepassing daarvan op 'n bestaande misdaad, naamlik bloedskande. Aangesien straf altyd 'n nadelige uitwerking op die menseregte van dié wat daaraan onderhewig is, het, word aan die hand gedoen dat dit slegs as 'n laaste uitweg aangewend moet word indien absoluut noodsaaklik. Ondersoek word ingestel na toepaslike grondwetlike bepalings en ander regsbronne, wat gebruik word as grondslag vir 'n toets ten einde te bepaalonder welke omstandighede kriminalisasie gepas is. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat die besluit om gebruik te maak van 'n strafsanksie teen sekere riglyne getoets kan word. Die staat dra die bewyslas om aan te toon, eerstens, dat die bestaansrede vir die betrokke misdaad teoreties regverdigbaar is aangesien krimininalisasie 'n waardige staatsdoel dien; en tweedens, dat kriminalisasie redelik is, aangesien dit prakties wenslik is, asook die staat se legitieme doelwitte dien op effektiewe wyse op die mees onbeperkende wyse moontlik. In die tweede gedeelte van die verhandeling word die voorgestelde riglyne op die gemeenregtelike misdaad bloedskande toegepas. 'n Aanvanklike bespreking van die misdaad dui daarop dat die trefwydte van bloedskande sodanig is dat dit gedrag insluit wat uiters benadelend is, soos byvoorbeeld die verkragting van 'n kind deur haar vader, maar ook heeltemal onskadelike optrede soos byvoorbeeld geslagsverkeer tussen toestemmende volwassenes wat bloot aanverwante is. Die volgende stap is om die ware bestaansrede vir die verbod op bloedskande vas te stel en daarna te oorweeg of sodanige bestaansrede regverdigbaar is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat alhoewel daar goeie gronde vir die bestrawwing van sekere verskyningsvorme van bloedskande is, die enigste altyd-geldende rede vir strafoplegging in hierdie verband die onoortuigende bewering dat bloedskande moreelonverdraaglik beskou word, is. Selfs al word daar aanvaar dat die identifikasie en voorkoming van onwenslike verskyningsvorme van skadelike of aanstootlike gedrag 'n regverdigbare doel vir die bloedskandeverbod is, voer die skrywer nie te min aan dat die kriminalisasie van bloedskande onredelik is omrede die huidige misdaadomskrywing tegelykertyd beide oor- en onder- inklusief is om einge moontlike goeie doelwitte effektief te bereik. Nadat bloedskande getoets word teen die riglyne wat ontwikkel is, word aanbeveel dat bloedskande gedekriminaliseer word. Daar word aan die hand gedoen dat daar genoegsame alternatiewe strafbepalings is wat aangewend kan word om skadelike gedrag wat onder die misdaad bloedskande resorteer te bestraf sonder dat die regte van toestemmende volwassenes om sonder staatsinmenging hul seksuele- (of huweliks-) maat te kies onredelik ingeperk word. Dekriminalisasie sal nie slegs moontlike menseregteskendings voorkom nie, maar ook die legitimiteit van die strafregstelsel as geheel bevorder deurdat dit duidelik blyk dat die strafsankie reserveer word vir optrede wat werklik straf verdien.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Criminology)) --University of Limpopo, 2018
Schools mirror the culture of violence that is endemic in our society. They have therefore become the focus of research on violence. However, much of our knowledge on violence that occurs in schools is on learners as victims of educator-on- learner and learner-on-learner violence; and as perpetrators of learner-on-learner because a great amount of research focuses only on these types of violence. Very little research has been done on teachers as victims of violence, and of learnerperpetrated violence, in particular. The little knowledge that is available indicates that objectionable behaviour, such as ill-discipline, class disruptions, and aggression and violent behaviour are aspects of interpersonal relationships that may cause teachers stress, burnout, job dissatisfaction, ill health, and lead to them quitting the teaching profession. This study investigated learner-perpetrated violence as a school and workplace violence. The results of this study, which are the outcomes of independently conducted qualitative and quantitative studies, confirm the parallel existence of learner-perpetrated violence and teacher stress and related ill health, behavioural reaction and organisational effects. The implications of these results are that the current legislation, the South African Schools Act, and regulations and policies associated with it, is inadequate in preventing the victimisation of teachers by learners, in their workplaces. Hence, this study recommends a model that can be implemented to prevent violence against teachers at a primary, secondary, and tertiary level. Learner violence is an occupational health and safety risk for teachers and needs to be handled in the same was as any other occupational health and safety hazard; hence the desire by teachers to be covered against violence at work under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. It is recommended that future research should focus on the incorporation of violence into the existing list of occupational hazard. This will force employers to take every step possible to prevent the victimisation of teachers in their workplaces. The reduction of incidents of violence against teachers has the potential of slowing teacher attrition down.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of forensic nurses when providing care to victims of sexual assault in selected public hospitals of Limpopo province. Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was employed in this study. A sample of 7 registered nurses was purposively selected to partake in in-depth unstructured interviews. Results: Four themes associated with the experience of providing care to victims of sexual assaults emerged during data analysis. These included (1) psychological experiences of nursing victims of sexual assault, (2) physical challenges associated with implementing the forensic nursing specialty in a clinical setting, (3) psychological coping strategies to deal with challenges experienced, and (4) the experience of managerial support. Conclusion: Participants reported negative psychological and physical experiences of providing care to victims of sexual assault, which resulted to occupational stress. Recommendations of forensic nurses support guidelines and further research were made.
Health Studies
M.A. (Health Studies)

M.A.
Restorative justice is a new way of thinking about crime. Restorative justice ensures that the needs of the victims are not forgotten and it sets about repairing the harm caused to victims. In restorative justice, victims of crime are placed in the centre of the criminal court. It was of great importance to find out how the victims of crime perceive restorative justice. Eight victims of crime committed by juvenile offenders in Malamulele were selected to participate in the study. An exploratory study was conducted to gain insight into the feelings of the victims of crime towards restorative justice. To find out what meaning victims of crime attach to restorative justice, qualitative research methodology was utilized. Information was collected through a semi-structured interview to obtain a detailed picture of the victims’ perceptions on restorative justice by using an interview schedule. Non-probability purpose sampling was used to select the easily available victims of crime. It was discovered that the respondents perceived restorative justice as a relevant way and tool of settling the dispute face to face through reconciliation, peace and forgiveness. Recommendations are based on the findings to implement a restorative justice programme and to involve the victims of crime in the justice system. Recommendations for further research are presented.
Ms. H. Ellis

Increasing incidents of mob justice have left a trail of murders that remain unsolved in the rural areas of South Africa. As such, little attention has been given to the experiences of victims and perpetrators involved in mob justice related incidents in these areas in particular. The purpose of this study was to examine narrative accounts of the experiences of victims and perpetrators engaged in mob justice associated incidents in the Diphale village, Limpopo. Twenty participants, consisting of 14 perpetrators and 06 victims, were chosen through sampling techniques, like, convenience and snowball sampling. A qualitative approach was adopted using semi-structured interviews as the key research instrument. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 09 perpetrators, and two focus groups involving 06 victims and 05 perpetrators. Data was analysed using thematic analysis to interpret data collected from the participants. The findings indicated that unsolved crime leads to persistent mob justice activities in the Diphale village. The findings in the study were further bolstered through the provision of recommendations aimed at preventing future mob justice activities. The recommendations highlight proper service delivery, including community development, and the reduction of corruption and bribery.
Criminology and Security Science
M.A. (Criminology)

Teenage pregnancy in South African schools poses a serious management and leadership challenge. This chapter is based on the findings of a study that was conducted in South Africa, Limpopo Province. The aim of the study was to examine causes and factors responsible for teenage pregnancy in secondary schools in the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province, South Africa. This chapter explores the consequences of teenage pregnancy. Findings reveal that poverty, lack of parental guidance, and peer pressure could be some of the causes of teenage pregnancy. The study also suggests that pregnant learners are victims of expulsion or school dropout. The study further recommends that intervention programs be developed that include training of school management teams, school governing bodies, and educators to effectively educate and manage learners who are pregnant.