Social workers give many explanations as to why South African men abuse women. They range from cultural mores to the stress of living under Apartheid, the former government's practice of segregating whites and blacks. Under Apartheid, black South African men were routinely humiliated and paid paltry wages -making it virtually impossible to provide for their families. Poverty coupled with alcohol and drug use is what some believe nurtured an environment that was ripe for abuse in homes.

Palesa Makhetha doesn't believe any of these reasons are legitimate excuses for beating women. "There aren't any excuses because we just see abuse as an assertion of power and authority," said Makhetha.

Makhetha, who is spokesperson for People Opposing Women's Abuse, the country's leading Non-Governmental Organization on domestic violence, said that black South African women remain in abusive relationships for a number of reasons. "We see women from very poor family backgrounds," said Makhetha. "They think (spousal abuse) is acceptable because they come from a poor family background." But most black South African women believe they have no rights due to their participation in the African custom of lobola.

Lobola is the African ritual that joins a man and woman in marriage.

Much like a dowry, the man who desires to marry a woman pays lobola to the family. Once lobola is paid, the woman becomes the property of her husband and his family. Makotoko Makotoko paid 1,700 Rand ($283) for Segona when he proposed to her in 1984 — a price she deemed suitable at the time, in part because she thought that he loved her. "I regret it now," said Segona who lived in poverty before marrying her husband.

Women who lack education and live in poverty are not the only ones who insist on carrying out the tradition of lobola. "Not a single black women in the Commission would consider not paying lobola or having lobola paid for her," said Gerntholtz. "Everyone here who is black and married has gone through that practice."

More than a ceremonial practice, payment of lobola strips women of their individual rights and enshrouds the domestic issues of couples with a veil of secrecy. When problems like violence arise, women believe it is a normal part of marriage, and that if they complain, no one will listen.

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