JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 25: Actor and singer Nakhane Touré poses for a portrait during an interview on May 25, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ‘Inxeba (The Wound)’ star opened up about his new moving to London, receiving death threats and his new album. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Alon Skuy)
Inxeba prevails yet again after Pretoria High Court judgment
Inxeba raises serious questions about acceptance in our patriarchal society.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 25: Actor and singer Nakhane Touré poses for a portrait during an interview on May 25, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ‘Inxeba (The Wound)’ star opened up about his new moving to London, receiving death threats and his new album. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Alon Skuy)
Inxeba prevails yet again. The Pretoria High Court has ruled against the Film and Publication Board’s (AFB) Appeal Tribunal’s decision to rate the film as hardcore pornography.
What is the ruling on the Inxeba case?
The court cited that the Appeal Tribunal’s process in arriving at the adjusted rating of X18SNLVP was legally flawed and that it should be overturned and set aside already.
Inxeba is a drama film that explores the complexities of tradition and sexual relationships between AbaKhwetha (male Xhosa initiates). It was released in July 2017 and, ever since then, has been embroiled in a legal tug-a-war with the FPB and the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL).
Right after the film was released, the FPB gave Inxeba a 16SNL classification, stating that the film contained strong language, sex and nudity.
Why did the FPB adjust Inxeba’s rating?
The producers of the film challenged this rating with the FBP Appeal Tribunal, citing that it was more of an educational film that brought the subject of homosexuality in tradition to light. However, the Appeal Tribunal upscaled its initial rating to X18SNLVP instead.
The NHTL was also very vocal about their displeasure with having the film aired in cinemas around the country. In the Eastern Cape, the organisation led public protests that were instrumental in having the film removed in a lot of theatres in the province.
The newly-appointed chair of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional Leaders expressed his discontent with the film, stating that “you cannot make a joke about a ritual that people love. It is really offensive”.
How well is Inxeba doing?
The judgment on the matter has been upheld and the film will finally have its explicit rating removed. Inxeba has since won 19 awards at film festivals in more than 25 countries.
It received eight nominations at the recent South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) and has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
