<p>Recidivism research is an important area of study within the field of Criminology as it can provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of current sentencing practices and correctional interventions alike. Despite this importance, there is a dearth of both theoretical and empirical understandings of recidivism in the South African context. The current study therefore explored the factors associated with recidivism through narrative interviews (<i>n</i> = 22) and focus groups (<i>n</i> = 28) with recidivists. A thematic analysis was conducted on the responses resulting in the identification of 21 themes categorised into five factor domains, namely cognitive-behavioural, victimogenic, social, environmental and other (comprising of employment and substance use). The identification of these variables provides insight into factors associated with recidivism in an under-researched territory and provides a foundation for future research that could influence the development of more effective intervention practices.</p>