The origins of comedy are hazy, but it is an art form that has long been a foil to the political shenanigans of the day, exposing the harsh reality of social conditions using humour or hyperbole. In ancient Greece, comedy was all about finding solutions to social and political dilemmas.

Humour is still used in this way, but there is some evidence that people are getting more cautious the more politically correct the world becomes.

None more so than our local broadcasters - public and independent alike.

This is a source of great frustration for artists in the industry, and it has led the "funny bone" team of Greg Viljoen and Jo Watson to create their own channel on the internet.

The company's name, NotOnTV, was a reaction to yet another pitch being relegated to the back burner because "South Africans aren't ready for this".

"Why should a small group of people decide what we should watch?" asks Viljoen, who doesn't see the funny side of the nepotism and censorship that he says our television is riddled with.

"We're wary of working with broadcasters who might stifle the comedy. The internet is the place to liberate it. The hits on the channel prove that South Africans are ready for our brand of humour. They are ready to laugh at themselves and the truth."

They go on to say that, while South Africa experienced a peaceful transition to democracy, there is still a lot of poison that needs to be eradicated.

"Humour is healing. If you start laughing at something, it all becomes a lot less scary. The British have been doing it for ages," adds Viljoen, who says this is where their greatest inspiration comes from.

"We love mockumentaries . Ricky Gervais. We want to push peoples' buttons. We don't want comedy that is watered down, slapstick crap. South Africa needs a bit of truth," says Watson.

Viljoen adds: "For me, this is a social concern. If you don't challenge people or issues, then there is a huge problem."

On the channel, the duo have created a fittingly cringeworthy (and tear-jerkingly hilarious) tribute to The Office, which enjoyed a great response, and their latest project is a series about a car guard with some unique super powers.

It is interesting that this comes at a time when the media (and freedom of speech) are facing a muzzle from the government, and the SABC is under the spotlight for the political battles raging there.

Perhaps now is the time to join NotOnTV in its call to action to other professionals to up the standard and give South African audiences what they really want - and that includes a few "meaningless" laughs.

See www.youtube.com/notontvSA