Section27 hopeful for victory in corporal punishment case against SACE
The case relates to sanctions the council meted out to two teachers who admitted to using corporal punishment. The Centre for Child Law, represented by Section27 now wants their cases sent back to the council to be heard afresh, with rehabilitation considered.
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JOHANNESBURG - Public interest law centre Section27 said it’s hopeful for a victory in its case against the South African Council of Educators (SACE) relating to sanctions the council meted out to two teachers who admitted to using corporal punishment.
The pair was fined but allowed to return to work without any rehabilitation.
The Centre for Child Law, represented by Section27 now wants their cases sent back to the council to be heard afresh with rehabilitation considered.
They were unsuccessful in the High Court but appeared before the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday to try and overturn the ruling.
READ: SACE insists sanctions meted out to two teachers in corporal punishment case effective
Section27’s Faatima Laher: "We are hopeful that the court will consider our application and subject both teachers to new hearings."
Laher described the problem of corporal punishment in schools as “huge” and said the result is that it teaches children violence is okay.
"And it enables that cycle of violence which then results in children then growing up in society and inflicting violence on others. Along with the psychological help that children need sometimes, the assaults can be so severe that children’s lives could be affected."
Laher said one of the children in the case at hand, for example, had to repeat a grade because of absenteeism resulting from the corporal punishment they received.