Vat en sit: Intimate partner violence against women in Ratanda South of Heidelberg

Abstract

‘Vat en sit’1 relationships have become an alternative form of domestic partnership as compared to marriage, without following the process of lobola. With an increased number of couples opting for ‘vat en sit’ relationships, women are becoming more at risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. The purpose of this study was to investigate intimate partner violence against women in these types of relationships. The study adopted a feminist approach as a contextual framework to understand the social problems and issues these women experienced. Qualitative research was employed to better understand the experiences of women, with the use of semi-structured interviews to collect data. A total of eight women who are in ‘vat en sit’ relationships, residing in Ratanda, with ages ranging from 22 to 46 years old were interviewed. Four key themes, reasons why couples enter into ‘vat en sit’ relationships, acts of unfaithfulness and trusting issues, expressions of intimate partner violence (physical, psychological, sexual and financial), and protection order emerged from the thematic data analysis indicating the existence of intimate partner violence in ‘vat en sit’ relationships. The findings indicated that women in these relationships experience physical, psychological, sexual and financial abuse from their partners. The study recommends that approach to the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators be intensified by the criminal justice system to avoid further abuse in ‘vat en sit’ relationships.