Chairperson, I don't think that there is any rule that requires any Minister to explain his or her whereabouts. I just wanted to mention that one. Aristotle said:
At his best, man is the noblest of all animals, separated from law and justice, he is the worst.
As the ANC-led government we have long said that we are on a noble course and we will never allow our little loved ones to be exploited and corrupted by ruthless, irresponsible and careless people out there.
This Bill is long overdue. In Sesotho: E siilwe ke nako. [It is long overdue.]
The noble objectives are to protect our kids from the potential dangers of digital technology, especially pertaining to child porn. If we do not stand up as parents and responsible adults and say, enough is enough, we are busy destroying ourselves and the future of our children. I don't know what the DA is doing.
If this government does not put its foot down on child pornography as displayed on the Internet, cellphones, films, computer games and magazines, we will go down as the most irresponsible government that ever ruled this country, and we cannot afford that.
Ha re no e dumella ntho eo. [We will not allow that.]
Furthermore, the Bill seeks to bring the broadcasters of the films within the scope of the Act so that there is compliance. There should be compliance officers who will monitor this business, which produces such dangerous material. These officials should be given authority to enter any premises of distribution at any given time, for the purpose of requesting certificates of registration.
Akuna "mangamanga" lapha. [There "ain't any lying business" here.]
This Bill further seeks to provide the compliance officers the authority to examine or inspect the premises used for conducting businesses, ensuring that they comply with conditions stipulated by the Act. In addition, compliance officers should be given the powers to examine or inspect any film or computer game offered for sale.
One of the objectors to the Bills says:
The proposed legislation is unconstitutional it reminds us of the past, it threatens the democracy and freedom for which many South Africans fought and lost their lives.
Is it true? It cannot be true. Chairperson, please, our brothers and sisters did not fight and die for the so-called "democratic freedom" in order to corrupt our children. They did not die for the so-called "democratic freedom" for sexual exploitations. Surely, they did not die to make our beloved kids cannon fodder for the unscrupulous business people. It cannot be right, we are not going to allow it.
Batho ba heso, re keke ra kekisa bana ba rona jwalo ka Judas Iskariota lebitsong la tjhelete. Re keke ra e etsa taba eo.
Modulasetulo, bekeng e fetileng ke ne ke dutse le setloholo sa ka se ka bang dilemo tse tsheletseng ho isa ho tse supileng, re shebeletse televishene. Ha re ntse re bohile, ha hlaha thobalano e tshabehileng, setloholo sa ka sa mpotsa sa re: "Mama, ba etsang, na ebe ba a lwana"? (Translation of Sesotho paragraphs follows.)
[Good people, we cannot betray our kids like Judas Iscariot, in return for money. We will never do such a thing.
Chairperson, last week I was sitting with my grandchild - who is about six or seven - watching television. Whilst we were still watching, a shocking sex scene came up and my grandchild then asked me: "What are they doing, mum? Are they fighting?"]
What kind of a fight is that one? She also said: "Mama ke a kgolwa hore ena ha se resiling." [Mum, I'm sure that this is not wrestling.] It is embarrassing! How are you going to explain that to a six-year-old? Please, I do give my children advice, so I do not want anyone to destroy them.
Modulasetulo o tla ntshwarela, ka Sesotho manyala ke manyala, ha a dumellwe, mme ho tla dula ho le jwalo. [Chairperson, with all due respect, in Sesotho an abomination will always remain an abomination, it is unacceptable and will always stay like that.]
One little child said: "Parents, you have a right to reprimand us, but please do not abuse us, as our mothers and fathers do not turn yourselves into our enemies."
Ka Sesotho re re: "Thupa e kojwa e sa le metsi." Setjhaba se sa hlompheng bana ba sona, se sa rateng bana ba sona, se tla ya timelong jwalo ka bona bana ba tseleng e yang timelong. Le a ba bona le lona. (Translation of Sesotho paragraph follows.)
[In Sesotho we say: "Spare the rod and spoil the child". A nation that does not respect its young, which does not love its young, will perish just like these who are doomed to perish. You can see them yourselves.]
Most of our objectors, especially business, are mostly worried about the effect of the Bill on their businesses. This government is more worried about building a society that is stable. I don't want to comment on the dissatisfaction that I pick up from the members in here, because the very same person who is busy shouting "Ke bana ba mang mebileng?" ["Whose kids are those?"] knows the reality very well. The person is just doing this to satisfy somebody.