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This research paper evaluates the role of informal justice mechanisms in addressing domestic violence in South Africa, based on 26 interviews conducted in 2003. It finds that many women prefer these community-based structures over the formal criminal justice system due to their immediacy, affordability, and focus on reconciliation rather than punishment. While these mechanisms provide essential access to justice and align with the desires of many complainants, the author notes concerns regarding the lack of regulation and the potential for mediators to overlook abusive patterns in favor of social harmony.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive analysis of South African crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year, alongside thematic studies on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, the 2005 firearms amnesty, and the nature of gang rape in inner-city Johannesburg.