Censors publish new guidelines

By Leon Engelbrecht, ITWeb senior writer

Johannesburg, 03 Jan 2008

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has published a new set of guidelines that will be used from this year to classify films and computer games.

The guidelines were published on the Government Gazette on 5 December and interested parties have until 31 January to comment.

By law, all films and interactive computer games must be classified by the FPB before they may be offered for sale, hire or exhibition in SA. The FPB says in the Gazette that the purpose of classification "is to protect children from exposure to potentially disturbing and harmful materials and, in so far as sex is concerned, from premature exposure to adult experiences".

It also aims to provide "such cautionary information as will allow adult South Africans to make informed viewing and reading choices, both for themselves and for children in their care".

The guidelines set out the criteria that the FPB and its Review Board must use in making classification decisions. The guidelines are based on research on the effects of the media on the development of children at various age-groups, says the FPB. But, it adds, it is important that they also reflect the norms, values and standards generally accepted by South Africans and the fact that "adults have the right to freedom of expression".

In addition to the now well-known admonitions of SNLV for sex, nudity, strong language and violence, the new rules introduce "B" for blasphemy and "P" for prejudice on grounds of race, ethnicity, gender or religion.

The guidelines are in addition to amendments to the Film & Publications Act that are still winding their way through the Parliamentary process.

The National Assembly - Parliament's lower house - approved the Bill containing the amendments in June in the face of severe media and ICT industry criticism. The draft law must still go before the National Council of Provinces before it can go for presidential assent. That is likely later this year.