Schoolboys spank each other in ‘Jungle Justice’ stunt

Paarl Boys’ High, a South African elite school, was in the news after claims that illegal corporal punishment was being used by teachers. Then a video emerged of boys spanking one another in what they called “Jungle justice.” Here’s an edited report from News24 in March 2019.

In the video, a boy takes a narrow plank and another boy braces himself on a table, with his buttocks jutting out.

There is laughter in the classroom as the boy with the plank is given advice on how to hit the boy over his shorts.

The plank goes down on the boy’s buttocks with a loud smack and a whoop is heard, intermingled with laughter.

The boy who has been hit arches his back while the other boys laugh.

In another clip, a boy is made to hold a pair of scissors with his hand over one of the sharp metal blades while another boy holds the other side and pulls.

The two exchange words, with the boy who is told to hold the scissors seemingly going along with the request.

“Look how he holds the scissors says somebody in the background.”

A teacher is not visible or audible in the videos taken in a classroom

The boy seemingly dominating the situation takes the scissors away and tells the other boy “Don’t touch me bra”, as the two seem to tussle over the scissors.

The boy who initially had the scissors reaches forward as though he wants to smack the other boy, but is blocked by a slap on the arm.

The other boy seems to taunt him and then somebody else eventually chimes in: “Okay, leave him alone.”

“Jungle justice” is one of the methods of harm that some parents and past pupils have alleged occur at the boys’ school in the Cape wine belt.

Other methods of physical “punishment” allegedly include a “five-star” smack on the back which leaves a hand print or smacks on the head.

The school has denied the allegations and has asked that anybody who has been affected officially report it for investigation. It has also stated that any further inquiries be directed to the education department.

Numerous sources who contacted News24 said it was the “norm”, even after corporal punishment was abolished in 1996. Many also said they loved the school, just not the punishments, and some questioned how else unruly children could be disciplined effectively.

Separately, News24 showed a video of boys at Paarl High rallying to the support of a teacher accused of using corporal punishment on them. They linked arms and sang the song You’ll Never Walk Alone.

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