FAN says that this shift in focus is powerfully underscored by the first national GBV study released in the week of 18 November by the Human Sciences Research Council's (HSRC), which delves into the core drivers of this crisis in South Africa.

"The findings are a wake-up call: mental health struggles, childhood trauma, and distorted notions of masculinity are fuelling destructive male behaviour and driving SA's unacceptably high rates of GBV. If SA is to make meaningful progress in eradicating GBV, these root causes must be addressed with urgency and intentionality," says Craig Wilkinson, Founder and CEO at FAN, and a recognised author, speaker and social activist.

Boys Aren't Born Abusers

Since its inception in 2010, FAN has asserted that "if we heal men, we will heal society." 

The HSRC study released nearly 15 years later affirms FAN's stance. It challenges the damaging notion that abuse is inherent in men, emphasising instead that no boy is born an abuser. "It's simply not in the DNA of a man to harm a woman or child," says Wilkinson. "Something has to go horribly wrong in a boy's journey to adulthood for him to become abusive."

The referenced study identifies childhood trauma and mental health issues as critical contributors to abusive behaviour. "Suicide, addiction and violence are destructive patterns often rooted in untreated trauma," Wilkinson adds. "Ignoring this comes at a devastating cost." If South Africa wants to turn the tide on GBV, it must invest significantly in psycho-social support for men and boys and teaching positive, healthy masculinity. Counselling, mentorship and trauma healing must become accessible and mainstream.

Toxic Masculinity: A Crisis of Identity

The study also sheds light on how distorted ideas of masculinity perpetuate abuse. When boys grow up without positive male role models—fathers and mentors who embody healthy masculinity—they turn to their peers or media for guidance. The results are often devastating. Aggression, dominance, and machoism become the default, replacing the true essence of masculinity, which is rooted in love, respect, service and being a place of safety, adds FAN.

The South African fatherlessness crisis exacerbates this challenge. Without men to model what it means to be a good man; young boys are left vulnerable to adopting destructive notions of power and manhood, FAN says.

FAN adds that the consequences are evident in the alarming attitudes revealed by the study:

  • 70% of men believe a woman should obey her husband
  • 23% believe a woman can never refuse sex with her husband, and
  • 15% believe a husband has the right to punish his wife for perceived wrongs.

"These beliefs are not just wrong — they are dangerous," Wilkinson adds. "If we do not dismantle these myths, we cannot expect to see a meaningful reduction in GBV."

"These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions that address the systemic and behavioural drivers of GBV, with a focus on mental health, substance abuse, and transforming harmful gender norms," Wilkinson says, referring to the HSRC study.

Wilkinson, who says FAN's work aligns closely with the findings of the HSRC study, highlighted four key drivers behind why men abuse. These include emotional woundedness, distorted notions of masculinity, false beliefs about women's value and emasculating circumstances. FAN's approach in its course, 'NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE', emphasises that while these factors help explain abusive behaviour, they can never be used as excuses.

The Path Forward: Healing Through Accountability

The HSRC study is a call to action, says FAN. To end GBV, South Africa must reframe its approach, this does not absolve men of accountability; rather, it demands that society address the conditions that allow abuse to flourish in the first place.

The solution lies in education, mental health interventions and fostering a culture of healthy masculinity. Schools, communities, workplaces and faith-based organisations all have a role to play. Wilkinson adds, "Raising boys to be the fathers, brothers, and leaders they were meant to be will not only protect women from abuse but will save our nation from the devastating tide of violent crime, fatherlessness and corruption." 

This year, let South Africa's 16 Days of Activism be a rallying cry for healing — healing the men who harm and, in doing so, healing the women, children and nation they hurt. Only then can we hope to stop the cycle of violence and build a safer, more compassionate society for all, FAN concludes.

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*Image courtesy of contributor