Corporal punishment at home
Corporal punishment still being used at schools in WC - SACEC
The South African Council for Educators' (SACEC) latest annual report shows some teachers are still being heavy-handed.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng ruled on Wednesday that corporal punishment was illegal, even in homes.
The Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that the use of moderate and reasonable chastisement, which included spanking, was inconsistent with the Constitution.
Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, who presided over the case, said that the defence of reasonable chastisement was inconsistent with the Constitution.
The Constitutional Court will on Wednesday rule on whether corporal punishment can be used in private homes.
CapeTalk host Kieno Kammies interviewed education activist Hendrick Makaneta and Lucy Jamieson, senior researcher at Children's Institute (UCT) about using corporal punishment to discipline children.
The Constitutional Court heard an appeal by organisation Freedom of Religion South Africa against a high court ruling which effectively declared all forms of physical force by parents on their children unlawful.
Ann Skelton, legal representative for the groups against child abuse, says reasonable chastisement cannot be effectively measured and therefore opens a child up to abuse.
For SA says it’s not asking the apex court to rule on spanking or corporal punishment but on the rights of parents to use moderate physical correction to discipline their children.