By: Natasha Archary
The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) has ruled against a complaint of nudity on Shaka iLembe.
This after promotional content over the riveting new series on Mzansi Magic revealed actress, Nomzamo Mbatha and others exposing their bare breasts.
According to the BCCSA, the complaint received cited that the promos were aired during programmes which children were exposed to and were inappropriate.
However, the BCCSA reasoned that the promos for the show were aired after the “watershed” timeslot, and fell within the channel’s guidelines for cultural nudity which requires no warning.
In a statement, Multichoice confirmed that the complaint was dismissed by the BCCSA.
“The complaint was dismissed by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) because our broadcast scheduled all promos that showed bare-breasted women after the watershed, (the time after which programmes that are regarded as unsuitable for children are broadcast on television).
Further in line with classification guidelines, if the nudity is in a cultural context, no nudity warning is require. The overall age restriction for the series is 16.”
The series which stars Nomzamo Mbatha and Lemogang Tsipa, is the story of the making of the great African king, Shaka Zulu.
In isiZulu culture, young women wear just the traditional skirt, but have their breast exposed, as a mark of virginity.
During the AmaZulu traditional reed dance ceremony, for example, thousands of bare-breasted virgin girls dance before the AmaZulu King.
The traditional reed dance, or umkhosi womhlanga, can only be presided over by the AmaZulu King.
