real G
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 7, 2013
- 5,227
- 5,303
A recent court ruling has got South Africans of all ages discussing the merits, and otherwise, of smacking children.
"Is it true that parents are not allowed to spank their children any more?" came the question from my 10-year-old step-daughter at the dinner table.
I had barely swallowed my food or gathered my thoughts before she continued: "It hurts you know, children don't like being spanked."
And there it was, my chance to regain my footing and win back this little exchange: "Well it's punishment dear, you're not supposed to like it."
She went back to her dinner, well at least for a minute.
But it was true, she had heard the news at school and wanted to make sure her friend had not been lying to her.
A court in Johannesburg recently ruled that physical discipline in the home was not in line with the constitution, meaning parents who smack their children could be jailed for assault.
It didn't take much for social media and comment pages of online websites to be flooded with parents criticising the ruling.
Abrie Botha posted on local TV channel ENCA's website:
"Spanking taught me good manners, respect, high work ethics, drive to perform at my best, loyalty, determination. It made me a very successful human being. What is this nonsense?
Who decides what is reasonable?
Corporal punishment was outlawed in South Africa two decades ago but if you were a parent and had hit your child to discipline them, you could use the defence of "reasonable chastisement" to avoid prosecution.
Parents could be acquitted if they could prove that the punishment was moderate and reasonable - that is no longer allowed.
"Is it true that parents are not allowed to spank their children any more?" came the question from my 10-year-old step-daughter at the dinner table.
I had barely swallowed my food or gathered my thoughts before she continued: "It hurts you know, children don't like being spanked."
And there it was, my chance to regain my footing and win back this little exchange: "Well it's punishment dear, you're not supposed to like it."
She went back to her dinner, well at least for a minute.
But it was true, she had heard the news at school and wanted to make sure her friend had not been lying to her.
A court in Johannesburg recently ruled that physical discipline in the home was not in line with the constitution, meaning parents who smack their children could be jailed for assault.
It didn't take much for social media and comment pages of online websites to be flooded with parents criticising the ruling.
Abrie Botha posted on local TV channel ENCA's website:
"Spanking taught me good manners, respect, high work ethics, drive to perform at my best, loyalty, determination. It made me a very successful human being. What is this nonsense?
Who decides what is reasonable?
Corporal punishment was outlawed in South Africa two decades ago but if you were a parent and had hit your child to discipline them, you could use the defence of "reasonable chastisement" to avoid prosecution.
Parents could be acquitted if they could prove that the punishment was moderate and reasonable - that is no longer allowed.
