FPB wants Twitter to remove explicit video of Free State speaker
The South African Film and Publication Board (FPB) says it has written to social media platform Twitter to request the removal of an explicit video featuring Free State speaker Zanele Sifuba.
The video was leaked on Tuesday night after she allegedly refused to pay a blackmailer R300,000.
In a statement on Thursday, the FPB said the video is an explicit depiction of extreme nudity.
"From the FPB’s perspective, the material is not only harmful as defined in the Films & Publications Act, 1996 (ACT NO. 65 OF 1996) . The free distribution of the material on a freely platform like Twitter, it further exposes children to age-inappropriate material which is prohibited by the Act".
The FPB's interim CEO Dr Mashilo Boloka says they are awaiting Twitter’s response.
"Twitter has not yet responded to our letter but we are hopeful that they will do once they get that, but the sense that I got it that and I think that this is some of the feedback that we have gotten from the public that the quantity is no longer visible as it was, but I hope after receiving our letter they would have acted. I hope the discussions or the situations that are happening at Twitter now won't delay in them dealing with the response because it will be an unfortunate thing.”
Twitter had been given until Thursday to respond to the letter, or the issue would be referred to the country's law enforcement agencies.
"Because of the risk the material or video poses to children in terms of age-inappropriate content, FPB has contacted Twitter to urgently take-down the video from its platform by the 10th of November 2022 (Thursday) , failure to which the FPB will apply the remedies provided to it by the Act, including referring the matter to the recently appointed Enforcement Committee, chaired by Retired Judge Thokozile Masipa for penalties and or fines.
Boloka has also warned the public to not share or repost the video.
"The only thing that we want to request is that the members of the public should stop sharing the content because it is harmful in terms of the act and is prohibited. Therefore, if you share it you are equally capable as the same person who posted therefore, we request the members of the public not to continue sharing because they will be arrested and will equally be in contravention of the FP Act".
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