Public television channel SABC 3 has been reprimanded for not placing the proper age restriction on the soapie "All My Children".

This was confirmed by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) on Thursday.

"The complaint was upheld and SABC 3 reprimanded for not having broadcast an age restriction of 13 plus an S classification for the relevant edition of the soapie," the commission said.

A viewer complained to the commission that a particular edition was rated "10PG", which means that parents are advised to be present while children under 10 watch.

This means they can talk about scenes in an educational way with their children, or change the channel.

Her children were waiting for a children's programme to start early in the afternoon when they watched the scenes concerned.

She felt it was "highly damaging to children" and also because "so many children are already getting into underage sex".

The commission found although there was no nudity in the scenes complained about, there were "compromising scenes of sexual foreplay".

The BCCSA deemed a 13S rating more appropriate.

SABC 3 had offered the defence that the long-running soapie had showed passionate kissing, but no sex, and that parents should be responsible for what their children watched.

- Sapa
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