Christian Education South Africa v Minister of Education (2000) (4) SA 757 (CC)

Main Issue: The central question to be answered involved the application of corporal punishment as it had violated the rights of parents at independent schools who, in line with their religious convictions, had consented to its use.

Findings: Court held that while the relevant parents could no longer authorize teachers to apply corporal punishment in their name pursuant to their beliefs, they were not being deprived by law of their general right and capacity to bring up their children according to their Christian beliefs. Save for this one aspect, appellant’s schools were not prevented from maintaining their specific Christian ethos. The decision was not found to be inconsistent with equality, right to religion, and the Court dismissed appeal.