Chairperson, we know that various organisations and departments are rallying to support a move to draft a law that will be aimed at ensuring that Internet service providers filter all content on the web so that people across the country, particularly children, cannot access pornography on their cellphones or computers. The Department of Education, the Department of Communications, Childline South Africa, the cyber crime unit and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa are all among the stakeholders. What role will your department play in this regard and how do you see your Ministry actually working within the situation to bring about this law? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, I would like to thank the hon member for the question. I think the interventions that we need to make include raising awareness within our communities around this particular issue so that we all play a role in ensuring that children are protected from pornography. Government will continue doing what it has to do in terms of whatever legislative or policy framework interventions that would need to be looked at in that regard.
At the moment, in addition to what has been done by the SABC board and other stakeholders, we need to ensure that we create an environment that is conducive for our children. So, it is an effort that we all need to make to ensure that children are protected from easy access to pornographic material. Even with the cellphones which are so easily accessible to children, parents need to ensure that they too play a role to monitor and ensure that children do not go beyond what is expected of them in their usage of cellphones, and so on. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you Chairperson. Minister, we would like to know, as the ANC, how you see the involvement of the community. You just said it broadly, but, specifically, how do you see it with regard to legislations, policies, including the moral regeneration programme of government pertaining to society as a whole in speedily minimising the further spread of pornographic material whether it is in print or electronic media? Thank you.
The MINISTER OF WOMEN, YOUTH, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Hon Chairperson, as I have indicated earlier that this is a collective responsibility of all South Africans and, therefore, the role of the community is very critical in this regard. I think that the moral regeneration programme led by the Deputy President will assist us in moving forward in this regard to ensure that there is participation of all. Communities will also be able to raise their issues and voices with regard to these matters and play a part in ensuring that there is awareness. They will also be able to educate their children on the dangers of accessing pornographic material. So, it is a responsibility that we all have to share, including communities as well. Thank you. [Applause.]
Sihlalo, xa uMphathiswa ethetha ngalo mcimbi womnathazwe ndinethemba lokuba uyayazi into yokuba phaya kum elalini eQolombana kuTsolo azikho iikhompyutha. Loo nto ke ithetha ukuba abantu abakwindawo ezisemaphandleni abasayi kukhawuleza bayixele ingxaki enje ngale. Kanti ke, imicimbi yamanyala nemiboniso bhanya-bhanya evela koomabonakude nakwiselula yinto echaphazela wonke umntu kwaye ekufuneka siyiqwalasele.
Ndifuna ukuqonda ke ukuba siyibeka esweni njani into yokuba lo mnathazwe uyabakhusela abantwana kwaye zidandalaziswa kakuhle zonke ezi zinto. Kwaye siza kubona njani ukuba abantwana bakhuseleka ngokwenene kwizinto ezifana nezi. Enkosi kakhulu.