Mxit, the Stellenbosch-based instant messaging service provider, has defended itself against allegations that it is responsible for creating antisocial behaviour among children, saying it just provides a communication medium.
Darryn Foster, Mxit GM, says: "We reject the reports published in the media that we encourage pornography. In fact, it is technically impossible for anyone to receive pornography through Mxit."
Foster was reacting to newspaper reports that cite allegations made by school teachers in the Western Cape that the Mxit service has "become an obsession affecting pupils` work" and that it permits children to get easy access to pornography and sex chat rooms.
The Cape Argus report, citing Western Cape education department officials, also blames Mxit for poor performance among Grade 10 pupils, and states that the Film and Publications Board is looking into the matter.
"Mxit is a community communications medium that provides communications at substantially cheaper rates than of the price of normal SMS applications," Foster says.
Launched last year, Mxit claims to have more than 1.35 million subscribers and says it receives about three million visitors to its Web site daily.
Mxit was originally linked to another Stellenbosch-based technology firm, Swist Technologies, but the two separated out their shareholdings several months ago.
Foster says there are "thousands" of Internet dating and pornography sites that children can access, either from their phones or computers, and while Mxit does have chat rooms, they have proved to be more of a discussion point than anything else.
"I believe that Mxit`s involvement in all of this has been blown totally out of proportion," Foster says.