ANC, SACP, ANCYL slam Zapiro's "disgusting cartoon"

ANC, SACP and Youth League Statement on the Sunday Times

Press freedom - as enshrined in our Constitution - is one of the cornerstones of any democracy and South Africa is no exception. It is for this reason why we deplore the abuse of press freedom as done by the Sunday Times yesterday by publishing a disgusting cartoon.

Not only is the cartoon depiction by the newspaper of African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma as a rapist, it is distasteful and borders on defamation of character. It further insults the integrity of the General Secretary of the SACP, Comrade Blade Nzimande and Alliance leaders.

Freedom of expression and the press is not one-sided but the inalienable right of every South African.

The ANC, SACP and the ANC YL strongly condemn this abuse, disguised as "press freedom". We further view this as a direct assault on the ANC and Alliance membership and its leadership. The cartoon rubbishes the collective integrity of the Alliance and constitutes yet another continued violation of the rights and dignity of the ANC President. 

We have repeatedly stated our commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution, and the rule of law. We have never attacked the judiciary but criticised unfair treatment of our President. This, we did in a normal public discourse of a democratic society. There can, therefore, be no justification for such unwarranted insult on our leadership by the Sunday Times.

By his own admission, Sunday Times editor Mondli Makhanya, says: "We are not angels and - idealistic as we are - we have never purported to be on a higher plane than the rest of human society. Just as others make mistakes, so will we." The cartoon depiction of our collective leadership and a string of errors the newspaper continues to make in its reporting, calls into question the integrity and credibility of Makhanya as editor.

Similarly, the cartoonist Zapiro has gone off the mark and he needs to be reminded of the basic tenets of press freedom for which insult and defamation are not counted amongst them. He has also been consistent in these un-warranted attacks on the movement and its leadership. In a country where we have a serious scourge of fighting violence against women and in particular rape, we need to be very careful how we use the notion and the concept of rape loosely to demonstrate any form of perceived abuse.

No amount of half-truths published by the Sunday Times, will sway the hard earned good public perception of the ANC and the Alliance. We can only hope that the newspaper will find a suitable leadership other than the ranting dictator who finds joy in manipulating the truth. The ANC is keen that the public should get Makhanya to answer for abuse of press freedom by the Sunday Times.

Statement issued by the African National Congress, SA Communist Party, and ANC Youth League, September 8 2008

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The cartoon depiction of our collective leadership and a string of errors the newspaper continues to make in its reporting, calls into question the integrity and credibility of Makhanya as editor."

ANC, SACP, ANCYL, September 8 2008

 

Related links

Documents:
Zapiro cartoon as it appeared in Sunday Times September 7 2008

Articles:

Zapiro cartoon justified - Dene Smuts »

COSATU condemns Zapiro cartoon »

Comments

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responses to this article

Cry wolf The cartoon depicts the reality in SA and it hurts the so called ALLIANCE to realise that there are intelligent people out there that do not buy their C***, the only unfortunate thing is that most of them are white with most of our black countrymen . .more keeping their heads in the sand, refusing to accept that their own leaders are USELESS CORRUPT THIEVES but hey, anything is better than have the opposition running the country!!!!!! . .less by Stan on September 08 2008, 16:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zuma Rapist This cartoon is totally on the mark, and the only reason that Zapiro had to go so far is because the "holy" aliance are such evil dictators that shock value is the only thing that gets through their arrogant, selfish skulls. GO ZAPIRO, DOWN . .more WITH ZUMA and UP WITH JUSTICE . .less by Thenack on September 08 2008, 16:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zapiro cartoon 7 September I don't know what the complaint is all about. The Alliance partners and Mr Zuma are not being depicted as rapists of the women in SA. If that is what you want to read into it I presume it is up to you. They are being depicted as abusers of the . .more Justice System and that is in fact what they are doing. I think it is a very accurate depiction of what is actually happening . .less by Johan du Toit on September 08 2008, 16:56 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cry justice Right on mark zapiro !! It is drawn just the way it is.......the justice system being raped and abused by the so called "protectors" of the constitution and justice system. Thank you zapiro for giving us all a good laugh. by Themba Sono on September 08 2008, 17:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zapiro...Of Holy Cows and Monkeys. THEY SAID: "Press freedom - as enshrined in our Constitution - is one of the cornerstones of any democracy and South Africa is no exception. It is for this reason why we deplore the abuse of press freedom as done by the Sunday Times yesterday by . .more publishing a disgusting cartoon.".....SO: From this it is CRYSTAL CLEAR to me that These people Believe Freedom of Speech Means "Free as long as you Poke none of OUR Holy Cows.....and WE will decide which Cows are Holy"??? Methinks they doth Protest too much, said the Bard. Its the same kind of thing you will get if you give a MONKEY a MIRROR.....He knows SOMETHING is going on, he just does not understand WHAT it is he is seeing..... OF COURSE By this I refer to a METAPHORICAL monkey and a Metaphorical Mirror...not a REAL monkey. I would never insult monkeys in that way. PS the rapist here in the cartoon is a METAPHORICAL rapist, is he not?? I mean...the GIRL is weraing a "justice system" banner...so we understand what she REPRESENTS....right?? And everyone can see that the rapist is in fact, an evil shower bearing a vague resemblance to a public figure...but its all very metaphorical, I think. :-) . .less by Cameron on September 08 2008, 17:31 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

reply I do not understand what is the big fuss about the cartoon, its really ironic that the alliance more especially the ANCYL knows the realms of freedom of expression when it does not suite them. Moreover, about the defamation of "women" by the cartoon I am . .more confused because the symbol of justice has always been shown as a woman who is blindfolded carrying a pair of scales on ane hand. And please stop dragging innocent (women) parties into this, just give us a clear, convincing response that what Zapiro has illustrated is not true! . .less by batutse on September 08 2008, 17:39 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A useful measure of intelligence... How telling that any amount of prose castigating Zuma for his cavalier treatment of the justice system is like water off a duck's back to the ANC and its fellow gangsters, but a cartoon has got them frothing at the mouth. Perhaps communicating in picture . .more form is the right way to engage with these creatures (always assuming anyone wants to, that is). . .less by Darwon on September 08 2008, 18:17 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Tough luck You threaten us with machine guns and a bloody revolution if Zuma gets tried. We reply with a cartoon, and you scream eina. Bunch of wimps. Take it home to mamma and cry to her - maybe you'll get some sympathy there. by Andy on September 08 2008, 19:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Applaud Zapiro I applaud Zapiro. The deeply felt offence by the ANC and Zumas kroonies is a clear indication that THE TRUTH HURTS! by Baker on September 08 2008, 19:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

reality The so-called "alliance" needs to sit down and take a long hard look at where they have arrived. Are they so out of touch with reality that not even something as serious as this can cause them to wake up? A cartoon showing the reality of what your . .more actions amount to? Have you ever considered that this "satirist" might have a point? Are you so holy? so untouchable? .. that you cannot even fathom for an instant that he might be pointing out a serious, serious problem in your midst? Might you be humble enough to sit back for a minute and ask yourselves why one would have to go to these lengths to make a point? And you STILL fail to grasp it? Perhaps we should just forget the satire and not mince words... you, gentlemen, are ignorant, undemocratic, tyrannical and reckless. Are you hearing me now? . .less by Gary on September 08 2008, 20:10 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The Usual Suspects and the Usual Obfuscation "Disgusting..."??? say the Stalinsits and Zuma's Fan Club ... but wait ..... as Justice Malala says in todays The Times: "The two persons who have threatened violence if Zuma is not let off are Vavi himself and the ANC Youth League president . .more Julius Malema. Remember that in June this year, echoing Malema’s words, Vavi said: “So yes, because Jacob Zuma is one of us and he is one of our leaders, for him, we are prepared to lay our lives [down] and to shoot and kill.” He went on to say: “And in defence of one another, because we love one another so dearly and so truly, we are prepared to kill and to lay our own lives [down] for one another.” . .less by Dr Selim Y. Gool on September 08 2008, 20:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Why get so hit up Why are blacks so sensitive to this sort of thing. They get hysterical and then complain about whites and coconuts and human rights. Who cares what Zapiro does, it is damn funny anyway and if Zapiro has a go at Zille it will also be damn funny. Grow up or . .more get more mature black people as you look pretty stupid when all you do is pull the race card whenever someone has a laugh at you or criticises you. . .less by Nwe York on September 08 2008, 21:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Is this the pot calling the kettle black Give me a break ANC. You phuken make me laugh!!!! You have no moral high horse! by Bob on September 08 2008, 22:21 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Two crazies NOT a Summer's Day Maketh! "NOW SAY AFTER ME MY CHILDREN, VIVA ZAPIRO, VIVA VIVA!" "VIVA FREREDOM OF EXPRESSION, VIVA VIVA!" "VIVA THE CONSTITURION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS, VIVA VIVA!" So what if 2 'unfulfilled' crazies want blood (money?) - most are bored . .more by our leaders' utterances and give a chuckle in the taxi at 5 o*clock in the morning on the way to work. while Julius and Zwelinzima are cuddled up tight in bed with (well lets not go into mTHAT now, shall we .... with ..... haha .... the Devil Satan herself! . .less by Dr Selim Y. Gool on September 09 2008, 06:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

well done Hats off to Zapiro and the Sunday Times. At last we get a reaction out of the ANC who have simply brushed aside criticism of their ongoing attack on the judiciary. They can hand it out but they do not like to be on the receiving end. by ack on September 09 2008, 07:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Spot On! Well done Zapiro ! If a picture was ever worth a thousand words, its that one! by Coolio on September 09 2008, 07:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Collective integrity of the alliance - hahahahahahahahahah Makhanya should sue for defamation. When I last checked being referred to as a "ranting dictator who manipulates the truth" is defamatory. One wonders how long it took the alliances collective native intelligence to pen this statement -its full of long . .more words. . .less by Oi Vey on September 09 2008, 07:54 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

While we are on On THAT subject ... Do you actually think she ("Justice being 'raped') is wearing any knickers (that''s brookies, my man)? If NOT then its O.K., eh, for then it was "enticement" .... or ... what does the steet pavement parliamentarians think? by sel_da_cool on September 09 2008, 08:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zapiro, fark these guys! Your cartoon depicts exactly what this rag-tag alliance is doing to our legal system by Dave on September 09 2008, 09:15 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

New low Zapiro has sunk the the depths of the Alliance itself. Neither can critisise the other. To kill and to rape have become accepted "satire" for political parties and now the press. No moral high ground for Zapiro here. by Che on September 09 2008, 09:24 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

My poor bleeding heart The so-called alliance can dish it out, but they cannot take it. How does it feel to know others actually see right through your idiotic plans? by Amazed on September 09 2008, 09:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

not again look out for Mondli Makhaya's apology this sunday....this would be the third apology in as many weeks by Mickey on September 09 2008, 09:34 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mantasha His comment that "the media, that is mostly managed by white people, does not have respect for the ruling party and its new leadership" says it all. He, and Julius in particular, are yet to learn that true respect is earned, not blindly accorded. . .more Nothing that these two idiots have done or said to date indicates that they will EVER gain that kind of respect. . .less by Franklin on September 09 2008, 09:50 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

machine guns and killing are fine but a funny cartoon by a white guy ... oh no These black dudes are oh so sensitive to what the rest of the world would find very amusing. What is it with them? Inferiority complex? Having to live with the failures of black leadership in Africa? The fact that they put little or no value on life? They . .more really get so full of hate when a white guy draws a cartoon. Get a life ANC people. Get a sense of humour. Put away your machine guns. Grow past killing as your only means of dealing with opposition. Grow up. . .less by jack mason on September 09 2008, 10:43 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

The pen is mightier than the machine gun It was certainly a hard hitting cartoon but right on target. I guess, despite all the madness around us, we should celebrate that we can still see such material published in the press and that we still have such talent around like Zapiro to draw what most . .more of us are thinking. Have you noticed how "Z" plays such an important part in Southern Africa - Zapiro, Zuma, Zille, Zulu, ZanuPF. Is Z going to be the new M (Mbeki, Mugabe, Mandela) Not much Z-action in the US or UK. They are more "B" countries - Brown, Blair, Bush, Barack. If I was Zapiro I'd probably draw a cartoon on this observation . .less by Sad Days on September 09 2008, 11:02 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ekshewelly we prefer written abuse to cartoons. The written stuff only hurts the 6 of us that are literate but cartoons strike us all. by Young Lion aka Kitten on September 09 2008, 14:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Funny stuff! "...the collective integrity of the Alliance...." had me in stitches. Many thanks to the author for that shining bit of comedy! by AvgJoe on September 09 2008, 16:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Kill Kill Kill I Will Kill for Zuma, he has promised me riches and nobody will take that away from yours truly, not even Shapiro, the crazy cartoonist. by Julius Malema on September 09 2008, 17:01 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

These three baffoons have no problem when Zapiro abuses the Israeli ministers like Sharon etc. Similar cartoons about them however are a no no. by realist on September 09 2008, 18:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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