Culture, demography and concealment: Insights from crime scene staging in Gauteng

While crime scene staging in intimate partner homicides has gained global attention, research remains largely Western-focused, limiting insight into ethnocultural influences. This study addresses this gap by analysing 18 staged intimate partner homicide cases in Gauteng, South Africa (2010–2021), using interviews with experienced police investigators. Drawing on ethnocultural criminology and Ubuntu philosophy, the findings show how local demographics, patriarchal norms and community values shape staging practices. Most cases involved young African male offenders and female victims in heterosexual relationships, reflecting national patterns and high femicide rates. Staging was typically ad hoc and disguised as suicide or attacks by unknown assailants, aligning with the region’s high violent crime levels. Ritualistic staging was rare. The study challenges Western assumptions and highlights the need for culturally relevant approaches to offender profiling and prevention in the Global South.