Definite 'no' to porn on TV 24 hours a day

PROMOTING sex is a sign of a lost world – that is the opinion of Reverend Mzukisi Faleni of the Presbyterian Church of Africa, reacting to pay channel TopTV's application – for a second time – to broadcast three pornography channels.

Faleni, of George, was among Eastern and Southern Cape clerics and residents who voiced their opinions on the issue yesterday.

"Already marriages are not stable because of sex. Sex has turned into the enemy of stability and a recipe to kill and finally destroy our nation. Promoting sex for 24 hours a day is basically wrong and our kids are not ready to be exposed to this," Faleni said.

"Sex is a strictly private and bedroom issue. It should not be made a public issue because sex is the carrier of morality."

Reverend Zwai Ntanjana, of the Emthonjeni Family Church in Port Elizabeth, was also opposed to the idea. "What TopTV is proposing is a big no. As it is, our country is going down the drain. We have a very high divorce rate. This is just to promote corruption, not to build the nation," he said.

Muhammad Badsha, spokesman for the Council of Ulama Eastern Cape, a theological society, said they too objected.

"We add our voice to all individuals and organisations, including welfare and religious, who are campaigning against the broadcast of pornography. Pornography in any form is absolutely condemned in Islam and is harmful to the moral fibre of our society."

Residents, however, were more divided. A 30-year-old Port Elizabeth woman who wanted to remain anonymous said she did not mind porn. "There is nothing wrong with that. I do watch porn to spice up my bedroom matters.

"I don't see why people are concerned about this as parents can use parental lock. Anyway the kids do watch it on the internet – it's not something that we can run away from," she said.

Ntombi Mali, 32, said she strongly disagreed as this would make children sexually active because they would want to experiment.

"The idea of playing porn on TV all day long is not right at all. This will just corrupt our children's minds," she said.

Thandokazi Ntlangwini, 22, said at least it should be aired at night.

"The idea of playing porn during the day will disturb the kids."

Tilana Esterhuizen said airing porn all day was wrong as there were children who would watch.