How is beating up kids going to curb crime? Prof. Jonathan Jansen weighs in on Groenewald's corporal punishment proposal

Jonathan Jansen, Extraordinary Professor of Education at Stellenbosch University, joins Mike Wills (standing in for CapeTalk's John Maytham) on the Afternoon Drive.

The issue of corporal punishment is back in the spotlight after Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald suggested its reintroduction should be debated as a way to mitigate overcrowding in our prisons.

Presenting his Budget Vote on Tuesday, Groenewald highlighted the fact that children as young as ten are being jailed for minor offences like stealing bread.

Well-known education figure Professor Jonathan Jansen weighs in on the Afternoon Drive.

While he lauded Groenwald for a sensible Budget Vote, Prof. Jansen says the idea of bringing back corporal punishment is 'just nonsense'.

'To be fair to him he did say let's debate it', Jansen adds.

"Sure, let's debate it, but I honestly don't think this is a solution for anything."

Jonathan Jansen, Distinguished Professor of Education - SU

"You need to get to the root problems in very dangerous and unstable communities, but corporal punishment is simply more of the same. It's what these kids experience every day at the hands of gangsters, at the hands of parents who are reckless..."

Jonathan Jansen, Distinguished Professor of Education - SU

Prof. Jansen counters the argument raised by some South Africans that kids were more disciplined when corporal punishment was in force, by saying this is actually pure mythology.

To hear more from Professor Jansen, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article