The “Watchmen on the Wall” programme addressing the topic of pornography on TV and the internet will be broadcast on TBN Africa – DStv channel 341 – this evening (Tuesday, November 20, at 7pm.
I speak to Minister of Communications, Dina Pule and Film and Publications Board CEO, Yoliswa Makhasi about legislation to filter porn on the internet and to prohibit it on public television.
Following the recording of this program, I met with Deputy Home Affairs Minister, Fatima Chohan and the Department of Communications Deputy Director General, Gift Buthelezi at Parliament to discuss amendments to the ICASA Act that will effectively outlaw pornography on SA television.
A follow-up meeting was scheduled to discuss and explore ways to introduce filtering systems on the internet to ensure children are not exposed to pornographic content online.
The devastating consequences of children exposed to gratuitous sex and violence in the media is regularly reported by that same media. The most recent case is a warning to South African society.
The media reports six Limpopo teenagers gruesomely raped and murdered three other children. This story is another tragic indictment of SA society in which children are neglected and exploited.
Child-on-child sexual crimes are on the increase in SA. Children exposed to violence and pornography on public television and the internet exhibit bizarre and brutal tendencies.
A few months ago, six teenagers were arrested for gang-raping a young girl in Soweto – posting a video of the rape on the internet. The video went viral and thousands of youth viewed this crime.
Free-to-air channels like E-tv insists that broadcasting pornographic movies and porn SMS adverts on public television is their “right” while ignoring the consequences of their irresponsible actions.
Protecting vulnerable children from exposure to harmful content on television and the internet should be everybody’s business. It is the primary responsibility of parents but as you are aware, many children live in child-headed families and many more in dysfunctional homes.
The Church of Jesus Christ must lead the fight to protect vulnerable children from exploitation by profit-driven corporations and anti-family groups who promote the sexualisation of minor children.
Please pray that my discussions with government will be successful. Pray for the introduction of legislation that will effectively remove pornography and violence from TV and the internet.
On Wednesday 21 Nov, Christians from all walks of life will join the “March against Crime” at 10h00 starting from Kaizergracht Street outside CPUT in Cape Town and on to Parliament.
A memorandum will be handed to the Speaker of Parliament demanding government take tougher action against violent criminals. We need your support for this mass action against crime.
The “March against Crime” will be led by well-known celebrities and is supported by FPI.
“Watchmen on the Wall” will record the event which will form part of our program on crime and violence in SA. Please make a special effort to add your voice against crime on November 21.