OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES UNDER THREAT
South Africa’s Film and Publication Board (FPB), along with the Department of Home Affairs, has thrown its weight behind a Christian fundamentalist plan to block all adult content on the internet.
The organisation, which held a symposium this week on protecting children from pornography, attended by a number of Christian “family” groups, said that current legislation was “not enough”.
“The law as it stands is not working, so we’ve no choice but to take it to the next level,” said FPB legal affairs manager Dumisani Rorwana.
“We expect resistance from those who claim the freedom to access pornography as a fundamental right. However, it is well established in legal circles that the rights of children are paramount. By comparison, viewing pornography remains a peripheral right,” he added.
Earlier the FPB confirmed that it was working “in partnership with the Family Policy Institute (FPI)” on the matter, a fact that will be extremely worrisome to those concerned about LGBT rights and civil liberties.
The Family Policy Institute (FPI), run by the homophobic Pastor Errol Naidoo, is a Christian fundamentalist lobby group which is openly anti-gay and seeks to repeal same-sex marriage rights in South Africa.
Naidoo, who believes that homosexuality can be cured through prayer, was quoted by Nigeria’s This newspaper as saying: “I hate gays. It runs against God’s wishes.”
The partnership reflects a trend in ties being cemented between government bodies and conservative Christian organisations, giving growing legitimacy to figures such as Naidoo.
In May, the Department of Home Affairs said that it had been in talks with the Justice Alliance of South Africa (JASA) – another group aiming to impose fundamentalist Christian values on society – about the internet censorship ban.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, confirmed at the symposium this week that he remained committed to fast-tracking legislation that would block adult material both on the internet and cell-phones.
In June, the Democratic Alliance (DA) slammed Gigaba, stating: “In a constitutional democracy, it is not appropriate for the government to tell private citizens what they may or may not watch, listen to, or read in their own private space.”
….. One wonders if that same prayer he so claims will cure homosexuality will cure his stupidity, ignorance and the pure evil that is brewing right now in his soul. These evil bastards always use children as an excuse to push through their own agenda. Yes, children accessing porn is not right but then its up to the parents to make sure they don’t, not these religious nutters who so despeartely want a piece of the political pie so they too can live lavish lifestyles (all justified by God, of course) while the rest of population suffer. Mr. Naidoo, as all preachers, is nothing more than a common devil in a suit masquerading around as a man of God.
Dear Mr. Naidoo. You and your God are powerless to stop me (and all other gay and lesbian people) from a living a life that is normal. We will continue to be part of society, even though the same society rejects us. We will pay our taxes, even though our government sees us as second-rate citizens. We will continue to respect our fellow man, even if we don’t get the same respect back. We will do this because we are better are than you. We will defeat people like you who do nothing more than twist religion to suit your own wicked purporse. We will defeat people like you who thrive on exploiting people’s fears through religion in the hope they will come through your doors throwing money at you. Your God knows the truth: money and power are the two things you crave and worship more. So even though you slander us, spread lies about us, encourage violence against us, we will stand tall, we will not back down. If you want a war then we will fight you. And we will win. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day. But I promise you, Mr. Naidoo, that we will win!
re: Tommy. Awesome comments Tommy! Agreed! 100%
10/10. Standing ovation for this letter! Absolutely true in every word! Now, if only our thoughts on this matter could be treated with the same respect as those thoughts of this ignorant, insipid fool.
I hate gays. “I hate gays. It runs against God’s wishes.” – Huh, Mr Naidoo, doesn’t hating also run against God’s wishes??? I don’t remember Jesus hating anyone? So what gives YOU that right?
WTF?!?. Are they seriously still pushing for this? It boggles the mind. They are starting to behave like those crazy Christian Fundamentalists in the USA.
What’s next, picketing gay events with GOD HATE FAGS posters.
Seriously, the JASA & Pastor Errol Naidoo must go and shove their “plan” up their behinds. Who knows they may just even discover they like it up the ass!
WHAT A FUCK-HEAD. Back at home in DBN i have heard of many pastors fucking around. . Using the name of the church in vain. . seriously . . This guy is a fuck up. . He is using the value of God to focus on things that don’t affect religion ! . Wake the fuck up naidoo .I bet he is rich to ,
Because he must be stealing innocent people’s money via the church. . And as for the ban . . We might as well go back to APARTHEID then .
The fuckd up government talk about freeDOM. . But the reality is that now it reverse apartheid . .with whites and and indians being given second preference .and here goes another freedom . . WAKE DA FUCK UP U DUMB AS GOVERNMENT!
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Sensuur? Het die ANC goed geleer by die NP?. Die ANC wil sensuur terug bring. Die voorstelle van internetbeheer wat die regering wil toepas oor wat volwassenes mag en nie mag sien nie, is netjies toegedraai in ‘n pakket wat veronderstel is om kinders teen pornografie te beskerm, aangevuur deur die fundametalistiese brigade van Errol Naidoo, Ray McCauley e.a.
Dis ‘n wolf in skaapsklere en baie slim – indien ‘n mens dit teenstaan, lyk dit of jy ‘n voorstander van pornografie is.
Daar is reeds baie streng wette wat kinders beskerm. Pleks dat die regering dit meer toepas, wil hulle dit maklik maak en vir volwassenes besluite neem.
Dis sensuur in sy kruste vorm – en reg uit die handboek van regeringsbeheer geleer by die NP van Apartheid-faam.
Tweedens, die “ondersoek” wat die ANC beoog (soos Berig in Beeld van 30/7/10) na die media wat “net negatiewe dinge oor die regering” sou berig, toegedraai in ‘n kokon van “transformasie”, is ‘n direkte inbreuk maak op persvryheid en ‘n hele paar ander vryhede.
Albei bogenoemde stappe is ongrondwetlik – maar wanneer het dit die ANC ooit gestop?
back 3 steps. what do we expect from a government where the president thinks it is acceptable to beat gays, our so called ministers of no arts and no culture thinks photography is pornograpic, and a tribal leader who thinks abducting girls at puberty is an admiral cultural trait. A foreign minister who so approveds of jusicial killings in Uganda that they appoint a notoriuos homophobe and a deputy minister of home affairs wants to ban just about everything on the internet ,
The rights of all S Africans are under threat from imbeciles and socially conservative retards.
We have been lulled into a false sense of security. The tolerance of the old guard has gone. Let this be a wake up call to all S Africans.
Hmmmmmm…food for thought. Well people…this is it!!
Sooner or later all us gays will end up being beaten and put in jail….so much for the ANC their allies…and their so called DEMOCRACY.hell,half of them that make the laws can’t even spell……..and don’t forget…Mugabe changed laws to suit himself..who says the ANC can’t do the same ?
Lets hope that we can for once stand together and fight for our rights..after all I am an adult and thus am able to decide for myself what I can and can’t do………..or am I not going to be allowed to decide?
….. Agreed. We have no choice but to stand together. We have no ‘outside’ support. Government officials won’t support us. Nor will society as a whole. They would much prefer if the whole issue was ignored. If they were repealing a law that took away childrens rights or race or gender then the whole nation would be in a uproar. But not when it comes to LGBT equality. Then suddenly no one has a mouth. No one has an opinion. No one is brave enough(except us) to stand up and say you cannot take our rights away. We must fight this … now!