I guess we have all known that assault of a minor is illegal, but we have made many concessions when it comes to beating up your own child.
Last month the South Gauteng High Court ruled that the common law defence of reasonable chastisement is not in line with the Constitution and no longer applies in our law.
This defence had been used to justify the actions of parents charged with assault.
I believe in the rule of law, and I can understand this.
I am just concerned that it won’t mean very much in our society.
Where I come from, parents use their own discretion in how to ‘discipline’ their children.
Yes, it is called discipline. And the rules of engagement were fairly simple.
There was some regulation as to ‘how much’ to hit your child.
But, of course, some people went overboard.
Very early on we were taught about our rights in school, but you learn to forget about all of that when you get home.
Would you dare to ‘question’ your parents’ authority over your life? No.
I am two steps short of being 30 and my mom still thinks she can belt me.
If they do adhere to the law, parents need to be taught positive and effective ways of disciplining their children.
If for centuries spanking and belting were the only ways they knew how, they cannot just be stripped and left like that.
This might backfire and produce a whole generation of unruly children.
I will admit that the imvubu (sjambok) put me straight before I did anything crazy.
I am not sure there is anything I fear more.
On the flip side, I have never had the stomach to beat up a child.
I hope it works out…
