IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - SOUTH AFRICA

1 February 2002

FXI calls for removal of books from banned list

SOURCE: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), Johannesburg

(FXI/IFEX) - FXI has expressed shock over the number of books that South
Africans are unable to access due to the existing gap between the current
legislation and the ban placed on them during apartheid. There are
approximately
18,000 titles on a banned book list drawn up by the apartheid government and
listed in a 560-page document called "Jacobson".

FXI welcomes the announcement by the Film and Publication Board that it will
remove Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" from the banned book list.
However,
FXI believes it is totally unacceptable that in a democratic country, where
the
constitution protects an individual's right to receive information and
express
themselves, thousands of books are out of the public's reach because there
is a
gap in the legislature.

In South Africa, illiteracy is high and many people have no access to books.
The
banning of thousands of books is a further impediment to the fight against
illiteracy and contrary to the government's commitment to eradicate
illiteracy.
Unlike television programmes, books give the public an ability to choose
which
books to read, at their own pace and on their own time.

Legal Advisor of the Film and Publication Board Iyavar Chetty says the only
books that are effectively banned are those that contain child pornography.
He
states that in order for these books to be made available to the public an
application must be made to remove them from the banned list. This
limitation is
not set out in the Constitution. Moreover, the Film and Publication Board
argues
that the 1996 Film and Publication Acts removed the ban on many books.
However,
FXI states that there are still many books that South Africans cannot
access.

Although the 1974 Publication Act was scrapped and replaced by the more
progressive 1996 act, which saw the birth of the Film and Publication Board,
there is still a gap in the legislation. FXI feels that the government is
aware
of the problem and should be able to pass a law that would eradicate this
problem.

The organisation also notes that the government should not blame the past
regime
for the current problems that can be solved, as this does not advance the
political and social development of a democratic society. FXI states that
something must be done to improve this situation.

For further information, contact FXI at P.O. Box 30668, Braamfontein, 2017,
Johannesburg (Street Address: 5th Floor Argon House, 87 Juta Street,
Braamfontein, Johannesburg), South Africa, tel: +27 11 403 8403/4, fax: +27
11
403 8309, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://fxi.org.za

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of FXI.
In
citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit FXI.
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