DA defends despicable depictions of President Zuma
ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman has noted that DA Western Cape leader Theuns Botha came out on behalf of his party and its supporters in full support of the despicable painting depicting exposed genitalia of the South African head of state, President Jacob Zuma.
Fransman says: "It is interesting that a senior MEC like Botha takes such a bold step in direct conflict with the views, norms and values of the many DA supporters and other ordinary people in this province. Do all those who do not subscribe to such public nudity like Muslim and Christians now agree with Botha that a very vulgar portrayal like this one in the AVA gallery is sanctioned by all supporting his party?"
Botha in a statement validates the attack on the dignity of the person and high office of president of the Republic of South Africa under the guise of freedom of expression and in the same breath threatens those that dare to criticise this act of disgrace in any term. What then about the very right to freedom of expression of those free-thinkers and artists that disagree with the way in which their president is portrayed, question the motives behind it or also giving harsh social comment?
"This is typical of the double standard hypocrisy of the DA and its leaders who are out of touch with citizens of the Western Cape and South Africa, like Botha.
"It is not the first time Ayanda Mabulu has painted Zuma's genitals and expressed harsh words with it. In an earlier painting ripping off the sanctity of the Biblical Last Supper he showed an exposed Zuma and on the same canvas also disgracefully painted the open private parts of emeritus Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
"This second attack on Zuma is also unacceptable and even more repulsive that the first. Clearly the artist's intentions are all but noble and the claims by the gallery curators to the contrary are not wholly sincere. It follows on the outrage about the painting by another Cape artist Brett Murray which was defaced in May and then removed from a Gauteng gallery. The latest painting cannot be interpreted in any other manner than disrespect for the highest office in our country.
"One can only hope that Botha will come out with the same fervour to defend the poor suffering in icy cold water due to flooding, chopping up furniture to burn for heat and protesting service delivery?
"Will he speak for children dying of preventable diseases like diarrhoea due to inferior infrastructure in townships, the women suffering under poverty, the desperate youth and children whose schools face closure by his DA government?
"Will Botha also hasten to lay charges against his own in the DA for their failures? Or is the DA perhaps behind these so-called art pieces to malignantly undermine the head of state?" Fransman added.
Statement issued by Marius Fransman, ANC Western Cape provincial chairperson, August 41 2012
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