Corpun file 26152 at www.corpun.com
Weekend Argus, Cape Town, 15 August 2015, p.22
Cape Points
Youth need a beating to set them on right path
(extracts)
THERE is a serious problem in South Africa which demands serious attention. All of us need to pause and reflect on, and look for possible solutions to what I call a crisis and a big threat. Our youth have lost their way and need to be redirected and be good and claim their rightful place in society as caring and active citizens.
We are in the 20th year of our democracy and freedom. We are living at a time when everybody has rights to almost everything, but what is very worrying is that not all these rights have worked to the benefit of our young people. Many such rights have brought distraction, and a loss of order, stability and consciousness.
I have not even reached my thirties -- but I think I can talk about this issue as it affects people of my age group and those younger without fear or prejudice. I think some rights introduced after 1994 have damaged our society, and have put our country at risk and make one sceptical about the future and well-being of our nation.
[...]
I challenge our government to look at this with care; it was a big mistake to remove corporal punishment from schools. A hiding by a teacher can never kill any child. It gave children order and direction. There is a huge gap between those who were beaten at schools (being disciplined) and the reckless young people of today. I was given hidings myself and it gave me a sense of order.
I want hidings to be restored and teachers given the space to be teachers and I believe that if this is done, they have potential to provide the order that we have lost. We need to save our young people and give them what we received.
Many policies that we have adopted from the West and other parts of the world are not good for South Africa and the African child. It can never be justified and defended that when a teacher or parent disciplines a child it is considered a crime -- it's unAfrican and pathetic.
Lonwabo Busakwe
Khayelitsha
