The much loved South African soapie is in trouble for airing an explicit incident in a family slot. Fair judgment?

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa has found the soapie 7de Laan and SABC 2 guilty of breaking its Code of Conduct for screening an attempted suicide in the channel’s family slot.

According to Channel24 the BCCSA slammed both 7de Laan as well as SABC 2  for crossing over the 'family content' line" at a time when a large number of children are watching TV.

“The threatening actions of the character were indeed too repetitive and graphic for the timeslot" and that "the suicide helpline number screened afterwards was of little or no use to traumatised children, and that the 13V advisory was not sufficient.”

The BCCSA was not the only one complaining about the soapies latest stint.

Some viewers were reeling by what they saw, raising questions as to how much damage is done to children if adults themselves are traumatised?

One viewer said: “I'm an adult person and I was very disturbed. It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth". While another said it was "totally uncalled for in what is supposed to be a family show".

Although SABC 2 and said they showed the suicide helpline number "for four seconds and five seconds respectively before the end credits".  They do promise to make the advisory of PG13 V to be more “sufficient to alert sensitive viewers.

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The suicide scene:
  By: Zeni Papu