Films and Publications Act, 1996 (Act No. 65 of 1996)ProceduresFilm and Publication Board Complaints Handling ProceduresChapter 3 : Lodging Complaints4. Complaints not dealt with by the FPB |
| (1) | The FPB has no jurisdiction to deal with complaints regarding any contravention of the Act prior to 1 March 2022. |
| (2) | The FPB may reject any complaint, which – |
| (a) | is based on hearsay, rumour or reports disseminated through the media, provided that the FPB may conduct an enquiry to verify any allegation of a contravention of the Act that is reported in the media or obtained from any source and upon verification, such alleged violation must be dealt with in terms of the Act and these Procedures; |
| (b) | is couched in language that is abusive, insulting, rude or disparaging, provided that the FPB may consider a complaint if such language is removed; |
| (c) | is the subject of a dispute before a court of law, tribunal, any statutory body, any entity with internal dispute resolution mechanisms, or settled between the parties, or in which there is a judgment on the issues in the complaint or finding of such court of law, tribunal, statutory body or other body; |
| (d) | is an anonymous complaint, subject to the provisions of clause 8 of these Procedures, provided that the FPB may on its own accord make enquiries to ascertain the alleged contraventions of the Act and, upon verification, the FPB may deal with the complaint in terms of the Act and these Procedures; |
| (e) | is viewed to be frivolous, misconceived, unwarranted, incomprehensible or does not comply with the provisions of the Act and these Procedures; or |
| (f) | is lodged after the expiry of a period of three years from the date upon which an alleged contravention of the Act occurred, subject to the provisions of clause 11 of these Procedures. |