A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Arts in Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The study aimed at critically examining the causes of gender-based violence in Kwa-
Nongoma. This study defines gender-based violence (GBV) as violence that is directed to a
person on the basis of gender or sex. It includes acts that inflict physically, mentally, sexual
harm or suffering; threats such as cohesion; and other deprivation of liberty. It also includes
sexual violence, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, spousal abuse, emotional and
psychological abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, infanticide of female
children, and discriminatory practice based on gender. For data collection purposes, the study
used qualitative research method which allows researcher to interview targeted respondents.
The targeted population were all people from the age of fifteen (15) to one hundred years
(100). Among other things, the study revealed that the majority of respondents are aware of
gender-based violence in the community. This violence includes a wide range of violations of
women’s human rights, including trafficking in women and girls, rape, wife abuse, sexual
abuse of children, and harmful cultural practices and traditions that irreparably damage girls
and women’s reproductive and sexual health. Additionally, the results proved that the
majority of GBVcase are directed towards women and girls but a few boys and men are also
victims.
Among other things highlighted, the respondents indicated that GBV encompasses the
following forms of GBV:
Physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring in the family, including
battering, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse of children in the household, dowryrelated
violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices
harmful to women, non-spousal violence, and violence related to exploitation;
Physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring within general community,
including rape; sexual abuse; sexual harassment and robbery.
In order to eradicate gender-based violence, respondents revealed that there is an urgent need
for government to create job opportunities in the area. For instance the respondents suggested
that there is a need for a garden projects which would help minimise poverty in the area. The
respondents also revealed that through the garden project, they would be in a position to grow
vegetables, maize, spinach, carrots etc. which they would sell to the tourists and other people.
Additionally, the respondents indicated that shortage of job opportunities in the area is seen as a threat that perpetrates gender violence in the area. The respondents suggested that there
is a need for a poultry project which would help eradicate poverty in the area. The
respondents also revealed in the aforementioned study, they would be in the position to rear
chickens both broilers and layers. They also indicated that the poultry project would be used
as a place where white meat is produced for the community as a whole.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/1345 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Shabalala, Mbongeni Mfanasibili |
| Contributors | Ntombela, N.H. |
| Publisher | University of Zululand |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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