ConCourt ruling on spanking children: Social media weighs in

19 September 2019 - 12:11 By Cebelihle Bhengu

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The Constitutional Court has ruled that spanking children is illegal.
Image: 123RF/Stockstudio44

The Constitutional Court ruling that spanking children is illegal has drawn mixed reactions on social media.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ConCourt said the ruling had its roots in a 2017 case, in which a father was convicted of assaulting his 13-year-old son. It further stated that the ruling was meant to advance SA towards non-violence.

Human rights groups, including Sonke Gender Justice and The Children's Institute, said chastising children by spanking them unjustifiably limited their rights to dignity and freedom from violence and amounted to assault.

Some were far from pleased, while others asked for tips on how to best raise children without subjecting them to violence.

Imagine coming back home to this surprise and you can't spank them because it unconstitutional 😲 eyoh Angeke I might as well take them to #ConCourt and lay charges for malicious damage to property they must serve time. pic.twitter.com/bq3OvSaC5H
— Charles Dimoke (@Charles_Dimoke) September 18, 2019

So the Constitutional Court has made it illegal to spank your child? Thank goodness we don't spank our children in South Africa, here we beat them! We dont play! #concourt pic.twitter.com/1P9jO0jLv6
— Lecron JJ™️ (@Lecron) September 18, 2019

#ConCourt 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 the problem is that kids will still have to report the spanking to police officers who are also black parents, so im not sure how this is gonna work pic.twitter.com/T2Mqr7qj50
— SabsShluthu (@Sabz_Shluthu) September 18, 2019

I can already hear that one black parent "spanking their child nge vaslaap saying "ucabanga ukuthi kuse Constitutional Court la? Kukwami la Dammit" 😂😂😂#ConCourt
— Gazania🌼 (@lelo_enhle) September 18, 2019

I have a mulberry tree with nice small twigs to give a sweet hiding. Concourt has no say in my child’s life #ConCourt #ConstitutionalCourt
— Dr E (@temi_emi) September 18, 2019

I think the #ConCourt decision on chastising your children is an indictment on what we call/accept as ‘parenting’.

Truth is, we don’t know any other discipline methods but the rod or threats of violence. We scoff at the alternatives without trying them.
— Mafungwase (@NomMkhize1) September 19, 2019

Dear Parents Twitter,

Share tips on how to discipline children without yelling or hitting them. #ConCourt
— Khanya Thembane (@noksy_k) September 18, 2019

LISTEN | What impact will the ConCourt ruling on spanking have?