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"I will always smack my kids"

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It's no mystery that parents don't like to be told how they should (or shouldn't) raise their kids. Recently the proposed legislation that would ban corporeal punishment at home came under the spotlight in South Africa once again. Many parents felt strong about the matter and sent in their responses.

Take a look at the following reader's letters that were emailed to us in response to the proposed new laws.

"Don't ban the smack!"

Who's going to stop me?
"I will carry on smacking my kids and they will have respect for me and others."

The government has taken away control
"Children need to be disciplined but the level of that discipline must be reasonable."

I believe in spanking
"My son will be spanked. I want to teach him right and wrong."

Discipline made me the man I am
"Sending a kid to their room does not have the same effect."

Smacking is the best form of discipline
"We might as well feed our kids to the wolves!"

Why I hate my mother
"I can remember less than a handful of smacks, but I remember a lifetime of bad words."

Spank the kids you love
"It hurt my bum, but it opened my ears."

No spanking means chaos
"It's a crime to STOP spanking!"

Spanking is going to become a crime?
"Children these days are not brought up with discipline anyways; they have no respect and no responsibilities."

I'll spank if I want to
"I will not let anyone dictate to me on how to discipline my child."

The minister needs a spanking!
"Discipline never harmed any of our great great grandparents, parents or even us!"

Trying to raise honourable kids
"Sometimes a smack on the buttocks is necessary."

I'm not bitter from hidings
"Spare the rod, spoil the child."

Hidings are personal
"Why should the government get involved in a parent's right to discipline a child?"

Children need boundaries
"When boundaries are crossed there are consequences!"

The language of spanking
"This rule will definitely not apply in my house."

My child threatened me!
"My child is already out of hand just knowing about this new law."

Illegal spanking?
"I will spank when necessary."

Ban the smack!

Opposed to corporal punishment
"Hitting a child serves to promote a culture of violence."

Would you continue to smack your child even if the new law was passed?
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