INXEBA PROTESTERS
at loggerheads with Van Damme
THE DA’s Phumzile van Damme has come under fire from anti-Inxeba (The Wound) protesters opposed to her intentions to challenge the film board’s decision to reclassify the movie with an X18 rating.
The Man and Boy Foundation (MBF) criticised Van Damme for backing the unbanning of a movie they claimed is spreading the wrong information about the “sacred Xhosa culture of tradition male circumcision”.
The MBF also charged that Van Damme was not in a good position to air her views because her party had a history of “dehumanising blacks and killing their culture”.
MBF executive director Nkululeko Nxesi said Van Damme’s opinion on the movie was skewed. He reiterated that his group was not against the movie because of the homosexual sex scenes in it.
“Ever since the issue of Inxeba surfaced, we have stated that we are not against LGBTI communities. Our objections against Inxeba the movie have nothing to do with the issue of sexual orientation.
“Even if the Inxeba movie was showing sexual scenes with heterosexual couples, we were still going to respond the same way we are responding now.
“Madam Van Damme, let me inform you that sex of whatever form or nature is not allowed in traditional initiation schools. Let me educate you a bit…
“Even parents of initiates are not allowed to engage in sex (at their home) when their sons are still initiates,” said Nxesi.
He said this practice was religiously observed by Xhosa families. He added that not all people in the LGBTI community supported the movie, as some of his gay friends, who had undergone the rite of passage, were against the screening of the film.
But Van Damme stuck to her guns yesterday. “We are still waiting for various proceedings and interdicts to be finalised before we can make a decision. We will not allow the offended few to trample on the freedom of speech and artistic rights of others,” she said.
Nxesi further charged that Inxeba was degrading to women.
“There are strong utterances that are made in the movie referring to a woman’s private parts. In this movie you hear initiates saying they will test their ‘Mercedes-Benz’, referring to their manhood, in the warm vaginas of women…
“As a woman, why don’t you see this as an insult to yourself and other women? Or is it okay for women to be insulted in the name of right to free and artistic expression?” he asked.
Last month, the Film and Publication Board Appeals Tribunal reclassified the movie from a 16 rating to X18, which meant it could not be shown in cinemas, and can be viewed only at places that screen porn.
This action was after members of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of SA and the MBF protested at cinemas in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng where the movie was to premiere.
The two groups later filed appeals with the tribunal to have the movie’s age restriction adjusted. The appeal went in their favour, triggering outrage from those who felt the ruling was too harsh.
Van Damme issued a statement rejecting the ruling on the basis that the punishment bordered on infringement of freedom of speech, including artistic creativity.
She praised the producers for being brave in exploring daring and important themes and stories that many others had been too afraid to explore.
Van Damme added that the DA would challenge the ruling.
The film producers are also waiting for the response to their court interdict to have the tribunal’s decision reversed.