The Intersection of Culture, Tradition, and Delayed Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse: Insights from the VhaVenda Tribe

Child sexual abuse is a global problem that interrupts the willpower to encourage the healthy development of children in societies. Although child sexual abuse is a global issue, culture and tradition play a significant role in how people perceive and respond to the abuse. This qualitative study used an exploratory design to understand the intersection of culture, tradition, and delayed disclosure in the context of the VhaVenda tribe. Five adult survivors of child sexual abuse, seven caregivers of survivors of child sexual abuse, four social workers, and two traditional leaders were purposively sampled to participate in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were arranged and analysed thematically. The key themes include (i) restitution and compensation, (ii) roles of traditional leaders in handling child sexual abuse cases, (iii) arranged hook-ups and marriage, and (iv) using traditional idioms/proverbs as defence and coping mechanisms. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the cultural dynamics at play and highlight the need to facilitate timely disclosure, support survivors, and foster protective environments. This paper recommends capacity-building, stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of traditional and legal systems to address child sexual abuse within the context of VhaVenda.