There is no direct causal relationship between pornography and violent sexual crimes against women, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) said on Thursday.
“However, consumption of pornography may contribute to the incidence of rape,” Icasa spokesman Paseka Maleka said in a statement.
Pornography made it more likely that those who were already inclined to rape might feel validated to actually commit a rape.
“Icasa... regards the consumption of pornography as one contributing factor, among others, to the normalisation of violence against women in South Africa.”
The Icasa statement was issued in explanation of its recent refusal to grant authorisation for three pornographic channels on Top TV.
On Digital Media's request for the channels was refused by Icasa on January 20.
Another reason was because Top TV had not taken seriously Icasa's public consultation process, said Paseka.
“(They) failed to participate in the public hearing in order to expand on its application and take questions from Icasa and the public or to rebut stakeholder views opposed to its application.”
On Digital Media had also misconstrued the objections to its application as being on moral or religious grounds rather than on constitutional and legal grounds, he said.
Paseka said Icasa saw no reason to expand access to pornography. - Sapa