By Regan Thaw
The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation says levels of male rape in South African are higher than initially believed.
A police investigation into the rape case of a Steenberg man in Cape Town apparently stalled because detectives were not able to track down witnesses.
The matter has been dragging for over six months and authorities said often such cases were derailed because male rape incidents were not adequately reported.
Whilst the reporting of female rape was often lamented, it was the same case with males.
The centre said not enough male survivors of rape spoke out.
It said one of the biggest challenges was changing how society viewed male rape.
In 2007 the offence was officially recognised under South African law but most cultures regard it as taboo.
It said unless narrow-mindedness around the scourge was done away, victims would be further disempowered.
(Edited by Danya Philander)
CSVR is a multi-disciplinary institute that seeks to understand and prevent violence, heal its effects and build sustainable peace at the community, national and regional levels.
