Is spanking your child unlawful?

"I saw it reported in the news recently that spanking your child has finally been criminalised. Is this true? Will this not result in overloading our justice system even more than it already is?"

We all know that corporal punishment in any form in our schools has been outlawed for a long time. But what is the situation at home. Here it is important to understand that it has always been a crime of assault to hit a child, even your own child. In this sense, spanking is already a crime of assault.

Parents, until recently,  have however been able to raise the common law special defence of moderate or reasonable chastisement if criminally charged, and could if successful with such a defence, be found not guilty of assault. 

In a recent ruling in the Gauteng High Court, where a minor was seriously beaten by his parent, the common law position was changed by the court, which found that the special defence of moderate or reasonable chastisement is unconstitutional and not in the best interest of children. This ruling in effect abolishes the right of parents to hit/chastise their children as it removes any special defence which parents may have used to justify them doing so.

Does this mean that a small tap on the bottom will result in a parent being criminally charged? Probably not, as the de minimis principle of our law makes it clear that the law is not concerned with trivialities. However, the judgement essentially now provides the same protection to a child as to an adult and parents can no longer claim a special defence to justify their spanking. 

Parents should be aware that any form of spanking could amount to assault and should refrain from any such conduct towards their or other children in their care and consider alternative methods of discipline.

March 8, 2018
Navigating financial emigration

Navigating financial emigration

In recent years, South Africa has seen a notable rise in financial emigration. This shift comes with significant tax implications, as individuals who cease to be tax residents must navigate complex regulations and financial considerations. Understanding these implications is crucial for anyone considering this move. Financial emigration refers to the formal process by which South African taxpayers alter their tax residency status, change their status with the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) for exchange control purposes and relocate their financial assets to other countries. This often involves transferring wealth, investments, and retirement funds offshore. The South African Revenue Services now mainly oversees this process, allowing individuals to terminate their tax residency in South Africa while effectively transferring their finances overseas.

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