Spanking Children is Now Unconstitutional in South Africa

A South African High Court has ruled that the spanking of children is a violation of the constitution.

This was made known on Wednesday, the 18th of September and is reportedly now part of the country"s constitution.

As reported by OkayAfrica, the decree came up after a father allegedly beat his 13-year-old son “in a manner that exceeded the bounds of reasonable chastisement”.

The ruling was outlined by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, and the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ruled that it was illegal for parents or guardians to spank their children i.e. use corporal punishment in the home setting.

This meant parents or guardians who are accused of assault after spanking their children, can no longer invoke the common law defense of reasonable chastisement.

Several groups and Children rights activists as well as organisations have welcomed the ruling.