Kimberley - The SA Human Rights Commission in the Northern Cape has received two corporal punishment complaints recently.
Chantelle Williams, Northern Cape provincial manager of the South African Human Rights Commission, told News24 corporal punishment seemed to be a problem in the province.
One complaint came from the ZFM district (in the Upington area) and the second from the Pixley Kasema district (in the De Aar area). Both complaints are from parents.
Williams did not want to give further information on the cases itself to protect the identities of the children involved, but mentioned that letters have already been sent to the relevant schools to inform them of the allegations. They will have 21 days to respond.
“Corporal punishment is illegal in schools. It violates people’s right not to be subjected to humiliating punishment. It is a human rights violation. Apart from that, there are children involved and corporal punishment does not have the interest of these children at heart.
“I find it worrying that there seems to be no consequences for the teachers who dish out this form of punishment. I get the impression that parents are expected to simply accept it,” she said.