SOUTH AFRICASOUTH AFRICAA survey by Statistics SA revealed that the use of corporal punishment in schools declined overall between 2009 and 2010, from 17% of students experiencing corporal punishment in 2009 to 14% in 2010. However, in some areas the use of corporal punishment increased: in the Northern Cape, from 5.6% to 17.5%, and in the North West, from 12.7% to 21.7%.
(Reported in “Disturbing rise in corporal punishment - survey”, News24, 5 May 2011, www.news24.com)
In 2008 the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention released its report on the National Schools Violence Study, which provides a baseline from which to monitor school violence in the future. Over 12,000 students took part in the survey, as well as nearly 800 principals and educators at 245 primary and secondary schools. The study found that, despite prohibition in schools, 71% of primary school children and 47.5% of secondary school children experienced corporal punishment. Rates of corporal punishment varied by province, with 90% of primary school educators or principals in the Northern Cape using corporal punishment, 81% in Limpopo and 78% in the Eastern Cape. Secondary school principals and educators were most likely to use corporal punishment in the Free State (61.8%), Gauteng (61%) and the Eastern Cape (58.5%). The report notes that there is a strong correlation in provinces between high rates of corporal punishment and use of violence by students. Almost half (47.3%) of primary school children suffered corporal punishment in the home. Students who experienced corporal punishment at home were more likely to report experiencing violence at school than those who did not experience corporal punishment at home.
(Burton, P., 2008, Merchants, Skollies and Stones: Experiences of School Violence in South Africa, Cape Town: Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention
www.cjcp.org.za/admin/uploads/NSVS-final-internet-ready.pdf)
The National Youth Victimisation Study released in May 2006 by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention reported on a survey of 4,409 young people aged between 12 and 22 years which found that nationally 51.4% of children continue to be subjected to corporal punishment in schools, with the lowest prevalence being 17% in the Western Cape. The survey also found that around a quarter of the youth live in a home where domestic violence between caregivers or parents is common.
(Reported in Shlensky, A., 2006, “Corporal punishment still rife in classrooms despite being banned”, Cape Times, 11 May 2006)
In 2004, Save the Children undertook qualitative research involving 410 boys and girls aged 6-18 years from four provinces in South Africa. The study found that children of all ages and income categories experienced corporal punishment at home and in school, although very few cases were reported by children in high income environments and children from Indian communities. The most common form of corporal punishment was beating with a belt; in schools it was most often inflicted using a ruler, stick or board duster on the hands. The most severe forms were experienced by children from low income environments, in both the home and school. Schools from high income areas were generally not using corporal punishment.
(Clacherty, G., Donald, D. & Clacherty, A., 2005, South African Children's Experiences of Corporal Punishment, Pretoria: Save the Children Sweden)
Further details on Children and research section
The first national survey of attitudes to child rearing and the use of corporal punishment by caregivers was undertaken in 2003, as part of the South African Social Attitude Survey (SASAS). Out of a representative sample of 2,497 men and women over 16 years of age from all provinces, population groups and economic backgrounds, 952 parents with children were surveyed specifically on corporal punishment. 57% of parents reported using corporal punishment, most commonly on children aged 3 years, with 33% using severe corporal punishment (beating with a belt or stick), most commonly on 4-year-olds. Of those who had smacked their children in the past year, 30% were men and 70% were women, with fewer younger than older parents using corporal punishment. The study concluded that the strongest predictor of severe corporal punishment was an attitude supportive of the use of physical punishment.
(Dawes, A. et al., 2004, Partner violence, attitudes to child discipline & the use of corporal punishment: A South African national survey, Cape Town: Child Youth & Family Development, Human Sciences Research Council)
Report available here as PDF.