According to a ruling by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, corporal punishment in the future will be illegal in private households
The majority judges of the Constitutional Court claims that children can still be effectively disciplined without using moderate and reasonable chastisement, there are other means of enforcing discipline.
In November last year, the Constitutional Court heard an application by Freedom to Religion in South Africa (FOR SA) requesting that a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that corporal punishment in private households be set aside.
Daniela Ellerbeck, legal representative for FOR SA, said earlier that the Supreme Court ruling “will make criminals of well-meaning parents who love their children and only want the best for them”.
Ellerbeck said the Supreme Court ruling essentially meant that if a parent just gave their child a light blow to the hind, the parent could be arrested, prosecuted and convicted.<
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