COSATU condemns Zapiro cartoon

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is utterly disgusted by the Zapiro cartoon in the Sunday Times on 7 September 2008.

Zapiro has in the past been a great friend of COSATU and the workers' struggle. Even when we disagreed with his view, we laughed and appreciated his skill. Many of his cartons featuring COSATU leaders adorn the walls of COSATU House.

While we accept that cartoonists have the licence to express controversial views, yesterday's cartoon is in extremely bad taste and goes way beyond limits of acceptability.

Firstly, it implies, and seeks to reinforce the view, that Jacob Zuma, despite having been found not guilty of the charges against him, is indeed a rapist. It is thus highly defamatory and was clearly intended to poison the minds of the readers against the ANC President and support the campaign to discredit and depose him.

Secondly, the use of a women who is about to be raped to represent the Justice system is grossly insensitive in the context of a crisis of rape and violence against women.

We demand that the Sunday Times publish an apology.

Statement issued by COSATU September 8 2008

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Zapiro cartoon as it appeared in Sunday Times September 7 2008

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Why? I would like to ask why an artist, who represents the view of a large part of South African society, should apologise. I think it takes a lot of guts to do what Zapiro did, and it is a true reflection of what is happening. The way that the tripartite . .more alliance has manipulated public perception to suit their own political aspirations by "raping" the justice system, is clear. One cannot help to think of Animal Farm by George Orwell, except in this case it is only the colour of the pigs that changed. . .less by John on September 08 2008, 18:49 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Spot on It depicts exactly what is happening in SA. Neither Zuma, nor anyone else from the ruling party gives a damn about the justice system. Zuma is in fact raping it, and his allies (Cosatu, SACP by Jay on September 08 2008, 19:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Cartoons? DO THE WORKERS CARE MR ZAVI? "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!" See, there's nothing too it, really, just like Comrade Ian Smith once . .more said: "Democracy is is like counting sheep in your sleep" (well, not exactly those words .... but) - so who cares if those 2 (only 2 crazies who want attention speak hate-speak, South African workers, YES, the black workng class man, know a bunch of con-.men when they hear them! . .less by Dr Selim on September 09 2008, 06:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Zapiro Cartoon Craven has always struck me as having a few cards short of a full deck. His comments reinforce this view. He is obviously blissfully unaware that a lady,blindfolded and bearing scales in one hand and a sword in the other, depicts justice in the Western . .more World. . .less by Chris on September 09 2008, 08:06 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

what is happening Is this what we want our children to see and interprete, you wonder why South African schools are the most dangerouse area than walking in Orlando in the middle of the night, this is becouse of people like Zapiro a criminal. What makes a criminal . .more dangerouse is not the gun he has, but the mentality he has. We can't allow people to express their freedom while ignoring other's right. this man is the criminal and should be arrested, it is times like this I wish Mugabe in the minister of safety and security just for the punishment Zapiro would suffer. By the way you are a right winger.. . .less by vusi makhubo on September 09 2008, 11:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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