CMY3705 – Assignment 1
Semester 2
Due: 12 September 2025
Title: Victimology in South Africa: Bridging Theory, History, and Urgent Realities
1. Introduction
Why Victimology Matters Now More Than Ever
Victimology, the multidisciplinary study of crime victims and their interactions with
offenders and justice systems, holds critical importance in South Africa. In a society
shaped by entrenched violence, endemic Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
(GBVF), and the enduring legacies of apartheid, victimology is not merely an academic
pursuit—it is an urgent framework for justice, social healing, and transformative policy
reform (Peacock, 2019).
Despite advances in theoretical models and policy frameworks, victimology in South
Africa often exists as an abstract construct, detached from lived realities. Victims—
particularly those who are Black, poor, queer, disabled, or women—continue to face
systemic neglect, inconsistent support, and secondary victimization at the hands of the
very systems intended to protect them (Ballard Brief, 2024).
This paper addresses the persistent gap between theory and practice, providing
contextual analysis, drawing on theoretical frameworks, and proposing strategic
solutions to strengthen victim-centered justice in South Africa.
2. Key Concepts: Foundations for Understanding
2.1 Victimology
Victimology extends beyond simply identifying and classifying victims. It interrogates the
broader structural and systemic conditions that enable and perpetuate victimization
(Peacock, 2019). Within South Africa, this field must be understood through the
historical lenses of colonialism, apartheid, and institutionalized racism. The legacies of
, state-sanctioned violence have left deep scars, shaping contemporary vulnerabilities
and inequalities.
A significant cultural touchstone in the South African context is Ubuntu, a philosophy
grounded in interconnectedness, dignity, and collective responsibility. In contrast to
many Western justice systems that prioritize retribution, Ubuntu emphasizes restoration,
healing, and reintegration—values with potential to transform victim support into more
inclusive and sustainable practices (SaferSpaces, n.d.).
As Foster (as cited in Peacock, 2019) observes: “Victimhood in South Africa cannot be
separated from its historical roots.” Victimological models that ignore these roots are
both analytically incomplete and practically ineffective.
2.2 Victim Support
Victim support encompasses services such as trauma counselling, shelter provision,
legal aid, and accompaniment through the justice process (SaferSpaces, n.d.). These
services are crucial in restoring victims’ agency, dignity, and access to justice.
However, service delivery remains uneven. Rural and informal communities often lack
basic support infrastructure (Western Cape Government, 2023). Many police officers
have little or no training in trauma-informed care, leading to re-traumatization through
dismissive attitudes, bureaucratic delays, and disjointed referral systems (CSVR, 2023).
The Department of Social Development’s Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP)
represents a positive step, yet inconsistent implementation and weak local coordination
limit its impact (Western Cape Government, 2023).
3. Theoretical Frameworks: Conceptual Tools and Real-World Applications
3.1 Routine Activities Theory
Proposed by Cohen and Felson (1979), this theory holds that crime occurs when a
motivated offender encounters a suitable target in the absence of capable guardianship.
While analytically useful, its application in South Africa requires contextual adaptation.
Semester 2
Due: 12 September 2025
Title: Victimology in South Africa: Bridging Theory, History, and Urgent Realities
1. Introduction
Why Victimology Matters Now More Than Ever
Victimology, the multidisciplinary study of crime victims and their interactions with
offenders and justice systems, holds critical importance in South Africa. In a society
shaped by entrenched violence, endemic Gender-Based Violence and Femicide
(GBVF), and the enduring legacies of apartheid, victimology is not merely an academic
pursuit—it is an urgent framework for justice, social healing, and transformative policy
reform (Peacock, 2019).
Despite advances in theoretical models and policy frameworks, victimology in South
Africa often exists as an abstract construct, detached from lived realities. Victims—
particularly those who are Black, poor, queer, disabled, or women—continue to face
systemic neglect, inconsistent support, and secondary victimization at the hands of the
very systems intended to protect them (Ballard Brief, 2024).
This paper addresses the persistent gap between theory and practice, providing
contextual analysis, drawing on theoretical frameworks, and proposing strategic
solutions to strengthen victim-centered justice in South Africa.
2. Key Concepts: Foundations for Understanding
2.1 Victimology
Victimology extends beyond simply identifying and classifying victims. It interrogates the
broader structural and systemic conditions that enable and perpetuate victimization
(Peacock, 2019). Within South Africa, this field must be understood through the
historical lenses of colonialism, apartheid, and institutionalized racism. The legacies of
, state-sanctioned violence have left deep scars, shaping contemporary vulnerabilities
and inequalities.
A significant cultural touchstone in the South African context is Ubuntu, a philosophy
grounded in interconnectedness, dignity, and collective responsibility. In contrast to
many Western justice systems that prioritize retribution, Ubuntu emphasizes restoration,
healing, and reintegration—values with potential to transform victim support into more
inclusive and sustainable practices (SaferSpaces, n.d.).
As Foster (as cited in Peacock, 2019) observes: “Victimhood in South Africa cannot be
separated from its historical roots.” Victimological models that ignore these roots are
both analytically incomplete and practically ineffective.
2.2 Victim Support
Victim support encompasses services such as trauma counselling, shelter provision,
legal aid, and accompaniment through the justice process (SaferSpaces, n.d.). These
services are crucial in restoring victims’ agency, dignity, and access to justice.
However, service delivery remains uneven. Rural and informal communities often lack
basic support infrastructure (Western Cape Government, 2023). Many police officers
have little or no training in trauma-informed care, leading to re-traumatization through
dismissive attitudes, bureaucratic delays, and disjointed referral systems (CSVR, 2023).
The Department of Social Development’s Victim Empowerment Programme (VEP)
represents a positive step, yet inconsistent implementation and weak local coordination
limit its impact (Western Cape Government, 2023).
3. Theoretical Frameworks: Conceptual Tools and Real-World Applications
3.1 Routine Activities Theory
Proposed by Cohen and Felson (1979), this theory holds that crime occurs when a
motivated offender encounters a suitable target in the absence of capable guardianship.
While analytically useful, its application in South Africa requires contextual adaptation.
