Films and Publication Regulations and Films and Publication Amendment Act 2019

The purpose of the Films and Publications Amendment Act (the Act) is to regulate the creation, production, possession and distribution of films, games, certain publications and certain online content. This is done to provide consumer advice to enable adults to make informed viewing, reading, and gaming decisions for themselves and the children in their care. We do this to protect children from exposure to disturbing and harmful material including premature
exposure to adult experiences.

Paramount to the mandate of the Film and Publication Board is the protection of children. Protecting children under the Act is a proportional balancing of the rights afforded in the South African Constitution against the right of the child. Children have the right to be protected from
physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or moral harm and to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.