Answer to Question #212641 in English for Chris

Question

CML1501 question.

Discuss first and very briefly, the historical development of censorship and secondly, the current classification process in South Africa.

Answer 1

Censorship was codified in 1963 by the publications and entertainments Act which defined the term undesirable in forty different ways but allowed a right of appeal to the Appellate division, theoretically providing a check on the publications control board by the application of judicial norms.

According to section 31(3) of the films and publications act ,the board is required to publish guidelines to be used to determine what is disturbing, harmful and threatening to children and to advise the viewing public about such events and scenes.