Cosatu demands apology for Zuma cartoon

The cartoon by Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, appeared in the Sunday Times newspaper. It shows a woman, wearing a sash with the words 'Justice System', being pinned down by ANC Youth League President Julius Malema and the secretaries-general of the ANC, SA Communist Party and Cosatu - Gwede Mantashe, Blade Nzimande and Zwelinzima Vavi. Zuma looks on while unzipping his pants, with Mantashe urging him to 'Go for it, boss!'. Cosatu said the cartoon implied that Zuma was a rapist. 'We demand that the Sunday Times publish an apology,' said Craven. Full report on the News24 site

Shapiro has defended his cartoon and rejected a claim by Mantashe that it was racist. Shapiro said he 'absolutely' refuted the racism charge, and that his record in the struggle years spoke for itself. 'There is a very, very pronounced tendency in this country towards exceptionalism, as if our politicians are more sacrosanct than politicians worldwide. That I take issue with,' he said, according to a report on the IoL site. 'I really feel strongly that they have to take a hard look at what they are doing and not use the red herring of racism.' He said he was not surprised that the cartoon had provoked strong reaction, as the image was 'outrageous', and a 'very explosive thing'. He had thought 'very, very carefully' about how women would view it, and before publication sent it to several women friends whose opinion he trusted. Their immediate reaction was one of shock. However they all then said that the cartoon not only showed graphically what was actually happening to the justice system and constitutional principles, but that it contained a second level of criticism on violence against women in a very patriarchal society. Shapiro added: 'The fact that Jacob Zuma has this personal history is his problem.' Full report on the IoL site

Constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos thought the cartoonist might have gone too far with the rape metaphor, says a Beeld report. But Freedom of Expression Institute Director Jane Duncan said that although the cartoon recalls the rape charge against Zuma, in the light of the alliance leaders' attacks on the judiciary that was not reason enough not to publish it. According to Business Day, Anton Harber, Wits University's Caxton Professor of Journalism, said Shapiro 'pushed the bounds of good taste and fair comment' in his 'provocative' and 'breathtaking' cartoon. 'I think in an open society we give space to our artists to be provocative and to push the envelope, even to shock us, even to offend us. He has certainly done that. Good for him, that's what we want.' He said the alliance's reaction was expected but its leaders should realise that such comment is part of the nature of a free society. Full Beeld report Full Business Day report