Behind the case files: The psychological toll of investigating sexual and corporal abuse in South African schools

This study explored the psychological toll experienced by South African Council for Educators (SACE) investigators responsible for handling cases of sexual and corporal abuse in schools. Guided by a transformative research paradigm and employing a qualitative approach, the study adopted a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) design to foreground investigators’ lived experiences and co-generate actionable insights. Sixteen investigators (6 females, 10 males) from six provinces were purposively sampled for semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and thematically analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. Findings revealed profound psychological strain shaped by seven interrelated themes: threats to personal safety and security, vicarious trauma and emotional overload, secondary traumatization through repeated exposure to sensitive cases, systemic obstruction and lack of interdepartmental collaboration, role overload and professional burnout, ethical dissonance and moral injury, and helplessness resulting from inadequate training and dysfunctional institutional systems. These experiences were exacerbated by insufficient psychosocial support and organizational inefficiencies, often leaving investigators isolated, emotionally exhausted, and vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress and moral injury. The study highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms, including structured psychosocial support, formal debriefing, clear role delineation, interdepartmental coordination, and enhanced training in trauma-informed investigative practices. By amplifying the voices of an often-overlooked professional group, this research underscores the psychological risks inherent in child abuse investigations and advocates for organizational interventions that protect investigator well-being while strengthening accountability in school-based abuse cases.