Abstract
This article discusses Sepedi proverbs that provoke child abuse. The proverbs to be discussed are Modiša o ja mohlapeng (A shepherd eats from the flock), Mpša e ja mahlatša a yona (A dog eats its own vomit), and Kubu e ja lehlakanoka la boyona (A hippopotamus eats the reed of its own). Each proverb will be discussed, considering its metaphorical and legal associations. The undertaking of this study has been motivated by the existence of proverbs that provoke child abuse in Sepedi. The subtopics of this article are introduction, analysis, and conclusion. The concepts of proverbs and child abuse are defined as part of the introductory section of this discourse.