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Men for Change

Guides

Plain, practical steps for men in South Africa: what to do, what the law says, and where to get help.

If you were attacked or abused

What to do in the first hours and days, and the rights you have as a victim of crime.

  • Living with childhood sexual abuse as an adult

    For men who were sexually abused as boys. How it can affect you now, why it was not your fault, and your options for healing and reporting.

    6 min read

  • What to do after a sexual assault

    What to do in the first hours and days after a rape or sexual assault, including urgent medical care, HIV prevention, evidence and reporting.

    6 min read

  • What to do after a violent attack

    Practical steps to take after you have been assaulted, robbed or attacked, from getting medical help to opening a case and looking after yourself.

    5 min read

  • Your rights as a victim of crime

    The rights you have under the Service Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa, and what to do if the police or courts don't respect them.

    6 min read

Domestic abuse against men

Recognising abuse by a partner or family member, staying safe and getting out.

  • Coercive control and financial abuse

    How to recognise when a partner controls your life, money or freedom, why the law treats it as abuse, and steps to take back control.

    5 min read

  • Making a safety plan

    How to plan ahead so you can stay safer at home, leave quickly if you need to, and protect yourself after leaving an abusive partner or relative.

    5 min read

  • Signs you are in an abusive relationship

    How to recognise physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse from a partner, and why it counts as abuse when it happens to a man.

    5 min read

  • When your partner is abusing you

    What you can do if your partner is abusing you, from staying safe and keeping records to getting a protection order and support.

    5 min read

False accusations

Protecting yourself and your rights when you are accused of something you did not do.

  • After a case is withdrawn or you are acquitted

    What it means when charges are withdrawn or you are found not guilty, and how to sort out your record, your work and your life afterwards.

    5 min read

  • If you are falsely accused

    What to do, and what never to do, if you are accused of a crime or abuse you did not commit, so that you protect yourself and your case.

    5 min read

  • When a protection order is taken out against you

    What an interim protection order means, why you must obey it even if you think it is unfair, and how to give your side on the return date.

    6 min read

  • Your rights if you are arrested

    The rights section 35 of the Constitution gives you if you are arrested, and how to protect yourself from the moment of arrest to your first court date.

    6 min read

Reporting and the police

Opening a case, what happens next, and what to do if the police won't help.

Family court and fatherhood

Your rights and duties as a father, parenting plans, maintenance and co-parenting.

Mental health and healing

Coping after trauma, finding a counsellor and getting through a crisis.

  • Alcohol, drugs and coping

    Why men often turn to alcohol or drugs after hard times, signs it is becoming a problem, and how to cut down safely and get help.

    5 min read

  • Coping after trauma

    Common reactions after a frightening or violent event, practical ways to cope day to day, and signs that it is time to get more help.

    5 min read

  • Finding a counsellor

    How to find a counsellor in South Africa, including free and low-cost options, what to ask and what to expect in your first session.

    6 min read

  • If you are thinking about suicide

    What to do right now if you are thinking about ending your life, how to stay safe and where to find someone to talk to.

    6 min read

Family and friends

How to support a man who is struggling or who tells you he was abused.

  • Signs a man is struggling

    How to spot when a man in your life is struggling, how to start the conversation and what to do if you are worried about suicide.

    5 min read

  • Supporting someone through a court case

    Practical and emotional ways to support a man going to court, whether he is the victim, a witness or the person accused.

    5 min read

  • When a man tells you he was abused

    How to listen and respond when a man tells you he was abused, what to avoid saying, and how to help him take next steps.

    5 min read

Boys and young men

Online blackmail, consent and what to do when a boy discloses abuse.

  • Consent and the law

    What consent means under South African law, when a person cannot consent, the age of consent, and what to do if your consent was ignored.

    5 min read

  • Sextortion and online blackmail

    What to do if someone threatens to share sexual images or videos of you unless you pay or send more, and how to report it.

    5 min read

  • When a boy tells you he is being abused

    How to respond when a boy tells you he is being abused, how to keep him safe, and how and where to report it.

    6 min read

Work and unfair treatment

Unfair dismissal, harassment and bullying at work.

  • Harassment and bullying at work

    What counts as harassment and bullying at work, how to keep records and raise a grievance, and your options through the CCMA and the courts.

    5 min read

  • Unfair dismissal and the CCMA

    How to tell if your dismissal was unfair, how to refer a dispute to the CCMA within 30 days, and what happens at conciliation and arbitration.

    6 min read