Zuma's moral: Tune out TV sex

2002-04-18 15:07

Pretoria - Persuading broadcasters to be cautious about showing explicit sex on television could form part of the quest to renew moral values in South Africa, says Deputy President Jacob Zuma.

"We could all discuss how we could influence broadcasters to balance their approach to programming," he told a conference in Centurion on moral regeneration.

"They could, for example, be sensitive about flighting soap operas and explicit sex, whose content is not conducive to good conduct."

The one-day meeting in a hangar at the Waterkloof air base was attended by hundreds of representatives from the government and civil society across the spectrum.

It was to culminate in the launch of a moral regeneration movement driven by civil society with government support.

'Focus on the good things'

The government announced the moral regeneration summit in November last year amid concerns about an increase in the incidence of child rape.

Zuma said on Thursday that broadcasters could focus more on programmes that promoted good moral values and less on crime series and violent dramas.

"We could (also) look at what kind of books and manuscripts can be produced by our authors and scriptwriters, which would nurture and promote values that would build a stronger nation."

Zuma said something was clearly wrong within the moral fabric of society, and this required urgent action.

"Moral degeneration cuts across the whole spectrum of our society, and that is why the renewal movement requires the participation of all South Africans."

Zuma said symptoms of the moral decay of society included a lack of respect for human life, a breakdown in parental control over children, abuse of women and children, and a general attitude of self-centredness.

Children without controls

There was also a tendency to shirk responsibility by failing, for example, to report corruption or criminal activities.

A major area of concern was a breakdown of family life, said Zuma.

Data from the 1996 census showed that the fathers of more than 333 000 children could not be traced, while the mothers of another 24 000 children could not be found.

Nearly 99 000 households were headed by children aged between 10 and 17.

"These figures should have increased by now, indicating the challenge we face," said Zuma.

He apologised for the absence of President Thabo Mbeki, who was scheduled to address the conference.

Mbeki had to withdraw because his presence was urgently required at the Inter-Congolese Dialogue at Sun City in North West, Zuma told delegates.

- SAPA