Abstract: Submission #76

Abstract Solutions to the widespread and global scourge of abusing women have not yielded satisfactory results to put an end to it. What has been undeniably observed is the sustained rise in incidents of abuse against women. For African traditional communities that particularly reside in rural areas, the missing link is premised in solutions being far removed from culture and traditional practices and therefore failing to satisfy and resonate with people. This paper is interrogating the provision of shelters for abused women in rural areas through an Afrocentric lens. It looks into the implications to challenges experienced within African rural traditional communities when abuse of women is being addressed. Following a qualitative study that interviewed 21 purposely selected senior women traditional leaders (SWTL) in KwaZulu-Natal, the author argues that the idea of removing women to shelters is rather than benefiting abused women, influencing the entitlement of men perpetrators and sustains male hegemonic views and welfare approach in finding solutions. Thus, it contributes towards silence and repeated encounters of abuse and limits the application of African centered solutions that charges everyone with the responsibility of care and respect towards fellow human beings. Data for the study was collected through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was undertaken. The findings were that the abuse of women remain at a structural level, a private but public issue within rural African traditional communities. The paper draws attention to developmental social work to align and incorporate Afrocentricity to solutions meant to resolve the issue of women abuse so as to meaningfully impact and influence behaviour change within the society.