ABSTRACT
South Africa’s previous political regime, with its racial segregation, created an environment of unequal development on all levels of society. Its control over economic power, education, housing, and employment led to poor socioeconomic conditions, especially among the Black and Colored people, who suffered poverty, homelessness, high unemployment, and other social problems such as alcoholism and drug abuse. These conditions put pressure on family life, and led to high levels of crime. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa contributes greatly to violence, especially to child rape, fueled by the myth that AIDS can be cured by having sex with a young girl who is still a virgin, or with sexually inactive persons such as elderly women. Alcohol abuse is a major health problem and plays a significant role in family conflict and violence.
