RE: ANCWL CALLING ON MEMBERS TO MARCH TO GOODMAN GALLERY

The ANCWL at its NEC meeting held yesterday (Friday) expressed a sentiment of deep pain and betrayal at the undignified portrayal of the President in a painting by Brett Murray, displayed at the Goodman gallery, on their website as well as on many other websites, including City Press.

The meeting raised the issue of how this painting has opened old wounds in society where the dignity of black people has been callously undermined. The ANC and the Women's League remember too clearly the fight for freedom in this country, and we were integral in the struggle for freedom of expression. But foremost in overcoming the scourge of Apartheid was restoring the dignity of "the black man" who was oppressed and made to feel sub-human under Apartheid.

This painting displays a distinct lack of respect for South Africa's constitution where human dignity is a right enshrined in our constitution. Human dignity is not something that can be debated, in a country where our past was fraught with indignity, human dignity becomes a non-negotiable right for all South Africans enshrined in our constitution and a nation building tool in our democracy.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that freedom of expression is a right as well, but this right is not absolute it comes with a responsibility. You cannot express a right to freedom of expression at the expense of the dignity of any South African and this includes the President of the country.

Any person who does not understand why we have to protect the human dignity of our people does not fully understand what is was like to live in a society where dignity was not a right for all South Africans, we need to remind those who have perhaps forgotten why the black consciousness movement of Cde Steve Biko was necessary in a time where black people would be forced to expose their genitals to determine gender because they were not afforded the rights of human beings in this country.

This painting has caused a lot of pain for many who do remember, and those who don't need to be reminded of where we come from as South Africans and instead of going backwards to a situation where the dignity of people are disregarded for the benefit of freedom of expression cannot be allowed. Rather we need to move on as a nation and continue to work towards healing the wounds of the past instead of rubbing salt in them.

The ANCWL noted the bold stand taken by ordinary South Africans who have no direct ties to the ANC, but who felt so hurt and angered by this painting that they felt a need to destroy it. This is an indication of the strong feelings of animosity from the general population of all races towards the undignified portrayal of their president in this painting.

The ANCWL NEC took a decision to defend the dignity of our President and all humanity. We call on all our members as well as ordinary South Africans of all races, who feel strongly about not only this painting but the bigger issue it represents to join the ANC and its Alliance partners in a march to the Goodman gallery on Tuesday. We will be demanding the painting be removed from every platform it is being displayed. This painting is an icon of destruction towards our unified country and let's calls for its removal as a unified body of proud South African citizens from all walks of life.

Join us on Tuesday, all are requested to gather at Zoo Lake Park, Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkview in Johannesburg, from 9h00 and the march to the gallery will commence at 10h00.

The march called by the ANC is a protest against the continued display and exhibition in that gallery's website of an insulting portrait of President Jacob Zuma. It is also meant to condemn the defacing of an ANC logo with an inscription "FOR SALE" and "SOLD" as it continue to be displayed in that Gallery.

Statement issued by Troy Martens, ANC Women's League national spokeswoman on behalf of the ANCWL, May 27 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter