A total of 17 000 pirated DVDs and CDs, with an estimated street value of R1.7m, was destroyed in Durban last week by the Film and Publication Board (FPB).

Most of the confiscated material comes from Durban Central, Greytown, Phoenix, Berea, Verulam and Pietermaritzburg, and a large percentage of the discs were Nollywood and mainstream Hollywood films.

The items were destroyed by the Oricol Environmental Services, a waste management company in Park Hill, and included items seized by the SAPS and Metro Police.

CEO of the Film and Publication Board, Mashilo Boloka, said black-market goods pose a major threat to the economy of the country.

“With FPB’s primary task being the protection of children from harmful content, the destruction process takes this confiscated material out of the equation completely, preventing it from finding its way back onto the streets and onto the viewing list of children. Some of the material was unclassified, making it illegal under the Films and Publications Act.

“Often seized discs contain pornographic material. Selling their unclassified goods openly at taxi ranks and on the streets, illegal distributors could end up exposing children prematurely to adult content. Pirate traders steal intellectual property; they steal revenue by depriving content creators of their royalties. Legal distributors lose their livelihood,” Boloka said.

He added that the Films and Publications Act 65 of 1996 prohibits the distribution of uncategorised (unclassified) films and games.

“The Act requires the classification ratings to be clearly and conspicuously displayed. Failure to do this could lead to imprisonment of up to six months, a fine or both,” he said.