Communications Minister Nomvula Mokonyane is hoping the destruction of more than R106 million worth of pirated DVDs and CDs will have a negative impact on illicit trade.

On Tuesday, the Minister, together with the Film and Publication Board, SAPS and the City of Cape Town’s Department of Economic Development, led the destruction of more than 106 000 illegal pirated DVDs and CDs, which were seized at various raids conducted in Cape Town and Durban in conjunction with the law enforcement agencies.

“The impact of illegal distribution of DVDs and CDs is a scourge that negatively impacts on the industry as well as the economy of the country.

Piracy peddlers steal intellectual property. They steal revenue due to destitute families by depriving them of royalties. People lose their jobs as more DVD shops close due to poor business, Minister Mokonyane said.

The Minister said the destruction is also conducted purely to prevent the confiscated DVDs and CDs from finding their way back to the illegal market, thus exposing children to undesirable and age-inappropriate content.

Most of the confiscated material was not classified and contained age-inappropriate content, which should not be sold on the streets and taxi ranks. This material poses the risk of exposing children and the vulnerable to disturbing and age-inappropriate content, Minister Mokonyane said.

The Films and Publications Act prohibits the distribution of unclassified films and games. The act further requires the classification decisions to be clearly and conspicuously displayed – failure of which could result in jail time of up to six months, a fine or both.

Source: South African Government News Agency