UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF MALE SEXUAL ASSAULT: A CASE STUDY OF THE KOKSTAD MEDIUM CORRECTIONAL CENTRE by SIPHELELE NOKWETHEMBA MTSHALI (212535976) Submitted in fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree: Master of Social Sciences, in Criminology and Forensic Studies School of Applied Human Sciences College of Humanities University of KwaZulu-Natal Supervisor Dr. Siyanda Dlamini November, 2018 i DECLARATION This is to confirm that this research is my own work which I have never previously submitted to any other university for any purpose. The references used and cited have been acknowledged. Signature of candidate…………………………………… On the ………………day of ………………………. 2018 (Mtshali, S.N 212535976) ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My gratitude goes to my supervisor Doctor Siyanda Dlamini for his guidance and patience throughout the course of my studies. Most importantly for his constructive feedback. I appreciate the support, love, and sacrifices of my parents Mr. and Mrs. Mtshali and my siblings (Sihle, Sibahle, Thokozani, Thandaza and Liyema) none of this would have been possible without your love. This one is for us. The grace of God for seeing me through these two years and finding favour in His eyes. To my friends who supported me through it all, blessings to you all. Uyabonga uMakhondlo! iii ABSTRACT Correctional centres are regarded as places of rehabilitation; however, this is not always the case. Correctional centres of the 21st century in South Africa seem to be a breeding place for the victimisation of offenders. One of the main purposes of environmental criminology is to successfully prevent the occurrence of crime through crime prevention strategies. Environmental Criminology considers the way in which the environment can contribute to the occurrence of crime and thus developing strategies that will alter the environment into preventing the crime from occurring. Aspects such as lighting, structure, and visibility are all taken into consideration when developing crime combating strategies. Using environmental designs to prevent sexual assault from occurring in South African correctional centres would require of the correctional officials to consider dealing with environmental issues such as overcrowding, how offenders are treated, as well as dealing with the issue of food, blankets and beds that are used as currency at the Kokstad correctional centre. This study aims to report on the causes of male sexual assault in South African correctional centres, with much focus on the Kokstad medium correctional centre. This study investigated the prevalence, nature and extent of sexual assault, as well as the rehabilitation programmes that are aimed at assisting victims of sexual assault. This was an exploratory and descriptive study that made use of in-depth interviews. Qualitative research method was used. Through thematic analysis the findings indicated that the presence of gangs in correctional centres is the major cause of sexual assault. Offenders can willingly become victims of sexual assault when they do not have support from their families as well as not having toiletries and well call items (well call items are food, snacks and cigarettes). As it had been mentioned above that the aim of the study was to report on the causes of male sexual assault, it became evident that overcrowding, staff shortages, lack of training for correctional officials on sexual assault related matters were some of the causes of male sexual assault at the Kokstad medium correctional centre. iv ACRONYMS AIDS- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome CCTV- Close Circuit Television CSVR- Centre for the Study of Violence CPTED- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design DCS- Department of Correctional Services HIV- Human Immune Virus HRSC- Human Sciences Research Council HSSREC- Human and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee NENT- National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology PI- Person Investigating RAT- Routine Activities Theory SAHRC- South African Human Rights Commission UKZN- University of KwaZulu Natal UNESCO- United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation VIVA- Value, Inertia, Visibility and Accessibility VPT- Victim Precipitation Theory WHO- World Health Organisation v TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents ............................................................................................................................................................. i DECLARATION ................................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................... iii ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................... iv ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL ORIENTATION AND PROBLEM FORMULATION ..................... 4 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4 1.1.1 The relationship between women assault and wyfies. ................................................................ 7 1.1.2 The role of alcohol in sexual assault .......................................................................................... 7 1.1.3 Homosexuality in Correctional Centres ..................................................................................... 8 1.1.4 Environmental Criminology ...................................................................................................... 9 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ........................................................................................................... 9 1.3 RESEACRH OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................... 10 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS......................................................................................................... 10 1.5 OPERATIONALISATION OF RELEVANT CONCEPTS ....................................................... 10 1.6 DISSERTATION OUTLINE ...................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 13 2. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 13 2.1. INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS ON THE CAUSES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ......... 13 2.2 SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEXT ON THE CAUSES OF MALE SEXUAL ASSAULT ........... 15 2.3 CAUSES OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ........................................................................................... 16 2.3.1. Sex as currency ....................................................................................................................... 16 2.3.2. Sexual assault and masculinity ............................................................................................... 18 2.3.3. Sexual victimization ................................................................................................................ 20 2.3.4. Race and sexual assault ........................................................................................................... 21 2.3.5. Overcrowding and power struggles ........................................................................................ 22 2.3.6. Correctional centre environment ............................................................................................. 25 2.4 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................................................. 27 3.1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 27 3.1.1. Routine Activities Theory ....................................................................................................... 27 1 3.1.2. Victim Precipitation Theory.................................................................................................... 29 3.2. CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 32 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ..................................................... 33 4. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................ 33 4.1. Research design ......................................................................................................................... 33 4.1.1. Exploratory Research .............................................................................................................. 33 4.1.2. Descriptive Research .............................................................................................................. 33 4.2. Research Philosophies ............................................................................................................... 34 4.3. Discussion on Research Approaches ........................................................................................