Investigating African indigenoues knowledge strategies to mitigate gender-based violence: a case study of Bushbuckridge Municipality, in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

Gender-based violence has existed throughout the history of mankind, in South Africa and around the globe. South Africa has the highest global rates of gender-based violence, and regardless of national laws imposed against this phenomenon, it continues exacerbating. This raises a need for a different perspective in addressing this issue - an African indigenous-based one. This study was aimed at scrutinizing possible African indigenous strategies to mitigate gender- based violence, amongst the Mapulana people of Bushbuckridge. The rates of gender-based violence cases have been witnessed to be increasing in Bushbuckridge. This has been attributed to the communities’ ignoring indigenous methods of living. This study had the following objectives - to demonstrate communities’ understanding of GBV; to explore existing strategies to mitigate gender-based violence, to establish possible measures to mitigate gender-based violence. Sankofaism (Quan-Baffour, 2008) thoughts guided the paradigm of this study within the qualitative research method. Purposive sampling with the snowballing approach were used to draw out the sample from the Bushbuckridge Municipality focusing on – 7 traditional leaders, 7 IKS knowledge holders and 7 specific relevant members of the public affected by gender-based violence. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions. Among the recommendations of this study is that the indigenous knowledge systems of the Mapulana people in Bushbuckridge should not be sidelined from mainstream knowledge. This would ensure that such knowledge form part of modern problem-solving tools. The study also recommends that future research can also focus on African communities’ indigenous response to gender-based violence against boys of all ages and men, for the purpose of equality, for although such violence also exists, attention has not been drawn to it.

Author dc:creator

• Nthane, Tisetso

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Mudau, T. J.
• Matshidze, P. E.

• African indigenous mitigation strategies
• African indigenous knowledge
• Mapulana
• Gender-based violence

Statement dc:rights

• University of Venda

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

http://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/123456789/2724

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:univendspace.univen.ac.za:123456789/2724