Yes or no? SA weighs into unbanning corporal punishment

The South African

03-07-2025

South Africans are weighing in on the debate surrounding unbanning corporal punishment as suggested by the Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, to combat prison overcrowding.
The minister called on citizens to start a dialogue during his budget vote presentation at the National Assembly this week.
Delivering his budget vote at the National Assembly this week, Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald suggested a debate on reintroducing corporal punishment as a means of preventing prison overcrowding.
The controversial practice was abolished in South African schools in 1996 under the Corporal Punishment Act, and later the South African Schools Act, specifically Section 10.
He later told eNCA: 'It is causing the taxpayer R463 per day per prisoner. And that is why I said we should open the debate. I know that there is certain legislation…but let's hear what the people of South Africa's views are'.
He continued: 'If it is possible that we can use corporal punishment, then we can address part of the overcrowding and we're also going to save the taxpayers' money'.
Groenewald suggested that the practice should be used against those who committed petty offences and could not afford bail.
Corporal punishment was officially outlawed in South African schools, as outlined in the Constitution, which enshrines the right to freedom and security of children, including freedom from violence.
In 2019, the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that enforcing the act in schools was 'unconstitutional.'
In its judgement, it referred to research that showed that the practice was 'potentially harmful and part of a wider circle of violence', particularly amid South Africa's 'history of widespread and institutionalised violence'. Should SA unban corporal punishment?
Image via Pixabay
Later, in 2022, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) criticised reports that then Gauteng MEC for Education, Penyaza Lesufi, suggested reviewing policies, including corporal punishment.
It said: 'Corporal punishment increases behavioural problems in children in the long-term and has shown no positive behavioural outcomes.'
On the X platform, South Africans have shared their views on whether corporal punishment should be unbanned in society, whether in schools or prisons.
Popular podcaster Penuel Mlotshwa posted: 'I support Pieter Groenewald. There are people sitting in jail for petty crimes, which strains tax money… but fattens the purses of tenderpreneurs. Those people should get a whipping and be released.
Here's what others had to say…
@nicksta_napo: 'Maybe make it mandatory for people to serve in the military for a specific period, rather than abusing kids at school'.
@UnityInSA: 'We need this. Whatever we had in 30 years is clearly not working. Time to change the system. If a potential criminal does not want to be punished, then he/she must stay away from crime. Its simple'.
@KG_Mulelwa: 'Corporal punishment for petty crimes and death penalty via lethal injection for serious and hideous crimes'.
@Sthamber: 'Corporal punishment takes us back to the bad old days of Apartheid. There should be better ways of dealing with prison overcrowding. South Africa needs to be more innovative'.