South Africa has long prided itself on being a society rooted in the spirit of ubuntu, the idea that “I am because we are”. It is a principle that emphasises compassion, solidarity and communal support.
Yet, beneath this ideal, an alarming and corrosive culture is quietly spreading in many townships, rural areas and even within the middle class: the phenomenon known as “mavuso”.
A term once associated with helping or supporting someone in need has been twisted into a form of transactional exploitation that threatens the moral and social fabric of our communities.
Mavuso, in its current township slang usage, refers to transactional sex with consent, often involving older men providing money, groceries or favours in exchange for sexual acts with younger women or girls, or even younger men or boys.
Some defenders might dismiss this as mere survival tactics in a country plagued by high unemployment and poverty. But such rationalisations are dangerous. They normalise exploitation, mask gender-based power imbalances and foster environments where abuse and manipulation become routine and a high risk for transmitted diseases.
It is naive to believe mavuso is a harmless exchange between consenting adults.
The reality on the ground tells a darker story. Disputes arising from unmet expectations, especially money not paid, demands escalated or broken agreements, often snowball into acts of gender-based violence and lead to a criminal case against the other person.
Police stations across South Africa are littered with cases that originate from these exploitive arrangements.
More alarmingly, a significant portion of these cases are later withdrawn at the police station level or at courts by alleged victims.
Often it’s because a settlement is then reached by both parties on the matter, sometimes it is due to fear of retaliation, especially if intimidated by the perpetrator(s), or social stigma. The result is the same: justice is delayed or denied.
The withdrawal of such cases not only emboldens abusers but also sabotages the credibility of the justice system. It further creates a chilling effect, where real victims of such crimes, living in constant fear of violence, end up suffering trying to be taken seriously by law enforcement or other community members.
Men, especially those with reputations to protect whether in marriage, community or business, often succumb to extortion to keep these mavuso relationships secret
The South African Police Service (SAPS) is already stretched thin. Officers are overwhelmed, resources are limited, and morale is low.
Social media often erupts with fury when the public perceives police inaction, but few understand the complexity behind these failures.
Case withdrawals, fabricated accusations and community pressure all muddy the waters, making it harder for officers to effectively respond to genuine cases of abuse in our communities.
False claims or manipulated withdrawals damage more than just statistics.
They erode public trust. When law enforcement cannot reliably distinguish between genuine and deceptive cases, everyone loses trust, and most of all, the actual victims of GBV and femicide suffer more.
The dangers of mavuso extend beyond physical violence. Reports indicate that in many of these transactional encounters, condoms are deliberately not used. This leads to increased rates of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, outcomes that become tools for further coercion and blackmail in some situations
Men, especially those with reputations to protect whether in marriage, community or business, often succumb to extortion to keep these mavuso relationships secret.
This creates a vicious cycle where exploitation is incentivised, health risks escalate, and community values deteriorate.
We must name it to end it
The uncomfortable truth is that mavuso culture flourishes because we, as a society, allow it. Our silence, our justification and our reluctance to confront uncomfortable truths give it oxygen.
Poverty and unemployment are real, but exploitation cannot be the solution, especially when it undermines our justice system.
Ending this harmful culture requires a multilayered approach:
- Community accountability: families, faith groups and community leaders must openly condemn and dismantle the normalisation of transactional sex rooted in exploitation.
- Education and empowerment: young people need access to education, job skills and mentorship that provides alternatives to dangerous survival strategies.
- Strengthening the justice system: the SAPS must be supported with better resources, training in handling GBV sensitively and tools to manage complex cases involving manipulation or intimidation.
- Victim support: withdrawal of cases often happens because victims feel unsafe or unsupported.
- More shelters, legal aid and psychosocial services are critical to breaking this pattern.
- Responsible media engagement: influencers and media personalities should avoid knee-jerk condemnation of law enforcement without context, while simultaneously holding systems accountable for meaningful reform.
Mavuso, more than just a slang term, reflects a crisis in our society where poverty, gender inequality and broken justice systems intersect. It represents a betrayal of the very principles of compassion and mutual support that our communities are supposed to embody.
South Africa cannot claim to be serious about combating gender-based violence, femicide and exploitation until we confront this uncomfortable reality head-on.
The time for silence has passed. Our communities must choose: either we normalise exploitation, or we reclaim the values of dignity, respect and justice
• Calvin Rafadi is a research associate at University of Johannesburg
For opinion and analysis consideration, email opinions@timeslive.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.