Chairperson of the Film and Publication Board, Mrs Thoko Mpumlwana
Members of Council of the Film and Publication Board
CEO of the Film and Publication Board, Yoliswa Makhasi
CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission, Mzwandile Masina
Film-Makers and Film Industry Partners
Ladies and gentlemen.
We are pleased to welcome you to this important consultation on the draft Classification Guidelines issued for public comment and discussion by the Film and Publication Board (FPB). As we know, the FPB is a statutory institution of the Department of Home Affairs whose primary mandate is to contribute to the transformation of South African society in line with the country's Constitution.
The Film and Publication Board therefore occupies a unique space within government and other institutions since it is responsible for the protection of children in particular, and society in general, through the classification of material, the imposition of age restrictions and provision of consumer advice.
Indeed, public concern over children's exposure to violence and sex in the media is not new. From the early 1900s, parents, educators, and policymakers have expressed concern that depictions of crime, sex, and love in major motion pictures were having detrimental effects on youth. Ironically, more than a hundred years later, the same concern is prevalent, although our young people are exposed to even more graphic and explicit forms of media violence and sex.
Research has shown that exposure to violence in the media through television, the cinema, and the internet touches virtually every child. In this regard, the American Psychiatric Association indicates that commercial television for children is 50 to 60 times more violent than prime-time programs for adults, and some cartoons average more than 80 violent acts per hour.
With the advent of videos, DVDs, cable TV, video games, and online interactive computer games, many more children and adolescents are exposed to media with violent content than ever before.
The same research further indicates that exposure to violence can have significant effects on children during their development and as they form their own intimate relationships in childhood and adulthood. An important qualifier is that while children are affected by violence exposure at all ages, less is known about the consequences of exposure at younger ages, especially any long-term consequences.
Various studies however, indicate that there are links between exposure to violence and negative behaviors in children across all ages and research reveals that, without doubt, exposure totelevision violence contributes to aggressivebehavior.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is therefore, more important that we deliberate robustly on the classification guidelines before you, since these will be used to determine the ratings and classifiable elements that ought to be identified when classifying content, for our young people in particular and society in general.
The FPB, in seeking to reflect objectivity in its classification guidelines and consideration of the changes in South African society, has taken into account the prevalent norms and values of its citizens and developments in South African legislation. In the formulation of the new ratings and classifications, we have also taken cognisance of citizen research.
Whilst we are legally required to publish the draft classification guidelines for public comment and input, we do so also because it is our moral and social duty to do so.
Ladies and gentlemen,
These classification guidelines represent a progressive shift from the way in which we have classified content over the years. New elements that have been identified and proposed in the draft guidelines also respond to new international trends regarding classification.
We have therefore also recognised new methods of distribution and developments in the film and gaming industry and these have been incorporated into the classification guidelines. We are pleased that a diverse and broad network of organisations and interest groups have participated in this process and we are further encouraged by the direct participation of film-makers in the development and finalisation of these guidelines.
These classification guidelines will, once finalised, assist the FPB to enhance its work and to guarantee the safety of children from premature exposure to adult content and experiences. We must however be cautious in our expectations that the new classification guidelines will automatically ensure that children are safe from inappropriate content. There still remains a great responsibility on parents, caregivers and adults in general to exercise responsibility in the choice of content their children and minors have access to.
This becomes increasingly important in a borderless world where content can be access through mobile phones on the internet as well as social networking sites. Technology, while making life so much easier and communication between peoples in all parts world seamless, and indeed cost effective, can be double edged sword in respect of the emotional and physical safety and well-being of our children.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A critical policy and legislative dilemma that has come to our attention, is the absence of a single classification authority, whose mandate will include classification of content for all platforms including broadcasters. We are therefore engaged in discussions with our partners in this regard.
Going forward and in the long term, perhaps we should also begin to think about the nature of the content we disseminate over the public airwaves. South Africa is a democratic society that encourages freedom of choice, in all respects. Perhaps citizens who choose to access content that is deemed unsuitable for younger audiences or those with particular sensitivities could purchase it for their consumption rather than consuming it through public channels. This is however a discussion that can be had in the longer term.
We are hopeful that this progressive discussion will provide South Africans with a reliable and credible content classification authority that will be responsible for the classification of content aired on all platforms. Working together we can ensure that the final product represents the views of all South Africans. This will go a long way towards ensuring implementation of and compliance with the guidelines.
We take this opportunity to wish all of you well in your deliberations tomorrow and to assure you that your inputs will certainly go a long way to shape the future of classification in our country. We wish you a pleasant evening and again express our appreciation to you for accepting this invitation.
I would like to conclude with an oft-repeated though, fitting quote from our beloved national icon, President Nelson Mandela who said, "there can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."
I thank you.
