Context and Significance
Gender-based violence (GBV) encompasses a range of abusive behaviors such as emotional misuse, harassment, and sexual assault, and it poses a significant challenge on university campuses around the globe. The impact of these acts on students’ academic performance, overall campus security, and mental health is profound, as highlighted by UNESCO (2024). In South Africa, the alarming prevalence of GBV among the student population accentuates the urgent need for in-depth research to uncover the root causes (University World News, 2024). This study aims to explore the institutional, sociocultural, and economic factors that contribute to the persistence of gender-based violence in higher education environments.