Johannesburg - Exposed breasts in a traditional ceremony setting do not constitute sexual content, nor do they result in sexual arousal.
These are the findings of a recent Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) tribunal, which followed a complaint lodged by a concerned viewer who took Newzroom Afrika to the BCCSA after it broadcast exposed breasts of Zulu maidens at the recent coronation of Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini.
The viewer expressed concern over the lack of a warning that the news channel would be broadcasting a sensitive part of a woman’s body to viewers, which could ultimately lead to sexual arousal.
According to the BCCSA, a complaint was lodged regarding the omission of the broadcaster to provide advisories that a live broadcast contained the exposed breasts of the Zulu maidens at one of the ceremonies leading to the coronation.
However, the tribunal found that the news channel had not contravened any clause of the code in broadcasting the ancestral introductory ceremony without advisories.
The tribunal said that the exposed breasts were part of a traditional and cultural practice, and therefore did not find that the channel had violated any laws governing the Constitution.
“There is a need for all South Africans to co-exist within the prescripts of the Constitution, which allows all to practice their culture and customs. The tribunal further reiterates the importance of the editorial independence of broadcasters while promoting freedom of speech and diversity,” it said in its ruling.
The BCCSA received the complaint on October 13, and the judgment was issued on November 7.
“The broadcaster argued the importance of understanding diversity and freedom of cultural practices by the Zulu nation in celebrating ceremonies of this nature – to attach sexual arousal to it is an anomaly.
“The tribunal (has) found no contravention of the code,” it said.
The Star