Cape Town - Human rights organisation Sonke Gender Justice has slated the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) for delaying findings of an investigation into the alleged promotion of corporal punishment by the Joshua Generation Church.
Sonke had joined a complaint by Hannah and Adriaan Mostert against the church in July 2013, after the church had published a parenting manual on its website.
Organisation spokesman Patrick Godana said on Wednesday the church had devoted four out of 39 pages to describing the length and thickness of a rod that should be used to beat children as young as a year old.
After an unsuccessful conciliation meeting between the complainants and the church, mediated by the SAHRC in November 2013, the commission was to report its findings within a period of between three and six months, but 18 months later the report has still not been finalised, Godana said.
“The fact that the report is late is especially unfortunate, since it exemplifies the debate on corporal punishment in the country.
“The delay of the report happens against the background of the parliamentary process of an amendment to the Children’s Act that will prohibit corporal punishment in all spaces.”
SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said the commission’s report was being finalised and should be released by the end of the month.
“We reject false insinuations by the complainants that we are blocking the report and that the commission does not have the interests of children at heart.
“In fact, we have been consistent, and still are, in ensuring that we put children’s rights at the centre of our work. We have consistently condemned corporal punishment,” said Mangena.
The church’s legal representative, Nadene Badenhorst, said the manual, titled “Raising Children”, was compiled by a leader couple in the church at the request of other parents who had asked them what the Bible says about raising children.
A few paragraphs in the manual had related to the disciplining of children, which included corporal punishment as a form of discipline, she said. Other advice was given on love, respect and marriage, Badenhorst said.
“We have no stance on corporal punishment as a church. Parents must decide what is best for their children, because every child is unique,” said Badenhorst.
“The Bible does mention discipline as one of the ways of helping to form a child’s character, for example, Proverbs 13:24 and Hebrews 12:11, but parents must be free to bring up their children according to their own conviction and reading of the Bible.”
Cape Argus