The government must beware of being too prescriptive with regard to how the public should behave in their private environment. It is not a matter of state. South Africa needs less governing, not more, says Dr Pieter Mulder, member of parliament and former leader of the FF Plus.
Dr Mulder says that it is important for the public, in this case parents, to be entrusted with the upbringing of their children.
“There are laws in place that serve as deterrent and that will result in punishment should parents transgress the socially acceptable norm for disciplining their children. In such cases, drastic action against the parents is needed to clearly convey the message that excessive or misplaced discipline is not acceptable.
“Parents should raise their children with love. The FF Plus is of the opinion that within such an atmosphere, a healthy measure of domestic discipline and chastisement greatly contributes to a disciplined and ordered society.
“The government should not interfere with the private sphere of parental authority, except in cases where children are abused. Hopefully the Constitutional Court will have the insight to qualify the recent ruling in this regard as such,” says Dr Mulder.
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