ABSTRACT
In South Africa nonnatural causes of death accounted for 10.3% of all deaths in 2013 (n = 458,933) (Statistics South Africa 2014). These deaths were due to “external causes of accidental injury” (56.4%), followed by “events of undetermined intent” (16%), transport accidents (12.1%), and assault (10.6%). Norman and associates (2007) reported that in 2000 the leading causes of death by injury were homicide (46%), motor vehicle accidents (27%), suicide (9%), and fire (7%) and that deaths associated with homicide contributed 65 per 100,000 each year, which is one of the highest rates in the world. Therefore the reputation of South Africa as a violent country, with gross socioeconomic inequalities from both past and present political circumstances, is not without reason (Reza, Mercy, & Krug 2001; Norman et al. 2007; L’Abbé & Steyn 2012).
