Government must review its legislation regarding physical education and corporal punishment at schools, the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco) said on Sunday.

Nadeco's Gauteng spokesperson, Siphiwe Gamede, said a scene similar to the one where a school pupil killed another pupil with a sword in Krugersdorp could happen at any school.

The reasons that such violent incidents could happen at schools were two-fold, he said.

Firstly physical education at schools had been stopped, including morning playing sessions, he said.

Gamede called on government to do research on the effects of the termination of these physical education classes and playing sessions for young children.

Secondly children never had to fear corporal punishment from either teachers or parents.

Children, thus, held no fear of punishment when carrying dangerous objects into school with them.

The power in relationships had moved to the children who could not be disciplined due to the prevailing legislation, he said.

Gamede called on government to research the effects of the removal of corporal punishment from schools.

Gamede said these two pieces of legislation were part of the problem that was killing South Africa's schools.

Sapa