Corporal Punishment: A Crime or Act of Love?

Abstract

Corporal punishment (CP) in South Africa is banned in schools, on judicial ground and more recently in homes. Despite these laws in stopping CP nationally, CP remains widespread used in South Africa. This study examined what the reasons and feelings are of parental CP within the South African culture, how community and societal factors interrelate with CP and what the effect is of a family intervention by offering non-violent disciplinary methods. A qualitative comparison of two groups was drawn; nine participants participated in a family intervention, and nine did not participate in any intervention (control group). Semi-structured interviews were therefore conducted (N=18) in eleven different townships in Johannesburg. It appeared that caregivers are still struggling with the change in law and in disciplining children. Nevertheless, a family intervention has proven to reduce the usage of parental CP and has a strong positive influence on parenting behaviour and wellbeing of the child. However, the usage of CP is culturally sensitive and reducing it comprises not only legal action at national level, but also making a cultural swift in raising awareness of CP and offering caregivers’ tools to discipline children in a non-violent way.