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Sexual violence is a pervasive human rights violation and a severe public health threat, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where underreporting and investigation challenges persist. This contributes to a culture of silence and inadequate government commitment to address this crisis. Patriarchal gender norms, rape stigma, and self-blame deter survivors from reporting, perpetuating the problem. South Africa faces a severe epidemic of sexual violence, with disturbingly high prevalence rates, especially in provinces like Limpopo and Eastern Cape. This endemic issue has complex underlying factors, including poverty, gender inequality, and a history of violence. Vulnerable populations, including LGBTIQ+ individuals, are at higher risk of gender-based violence. Corrective rape against lesbians is a harrowing example of such violence. Rape and sexual violence have devastating consequences, leading to mental, physical, and social impacts, making it imperative to understand the contributing factors. This scoping review aims to identify factors contributing to the high prevalence of sexual violence in South Africa, explore geographic variations, analyze research methodologies, and synthesize the evidence using ecological systems theory. It also seeks to develop a conceptual framework and identify research gaps. The study will follow rigorous search and screening processes, and employ systematic coding and analysis using Atlas. ti software, and assess article quality using established frameworks. The results of the scoping review will be disseminated to inform future research, policies, and practices in South Africa and beyond. This work is …