Jacob Zuma’s Mshini!

Brett Murray’s satirical work of art depicting our President with ‘his’ business all but hanging out has the country locked in debate regarding Zuma’s penis. Yes you heard right. The latest top story in South Africa has nothing to do with policy rather how well-endowed the president is or isn’t!

The African National Congress through its ever zealous spokesperson Jackson Mthembu has condemned the Goodman Gallery for violating the president’s privacy and stripping him of his dignity for hanging that work of art with all his junk out. According to Mthembu “Its distasteful and portraying South Africa in a bad light as Zuma is the head of the state.”

So much so that the ruling party is planning to apply for an urgent interdict to compel the gallery to remove the provocative art work. This has divided the people into campus with the ANC and its supporters calling for Murray’s blood while some think it’s a humorous piece of art that the party is blowing out of proportion.

Now I believe that it’s always a good thing when a developing nation like ours in engaged in debate as it challenges us to think and develop our knowledge when it comes to the matters that affect our country.

The problem I have with this debate in that the issues we seem to be so interested in are the ones that require less of our attention and time. If trade union Cosatu is not throwing tantrums (literally) at the opposition DA for toyi toying, everyone is discussing how big the President is below the belt. Is this commotion about one man’s penis so necessary even though every second person on earth has one? Why does the ruling party allow itself to be dragged into pointless and immature discussions?

South Africa is faced with a conundrum of when it comes to the state of our education system and not to mention the levels of unemployment. Electricity is something of a pipe dream to some people, water is scarce at the rural areas with food and fuel prices taking their toll on motorists and ordinary civilians.

These issues are what warrant not only warrant a high level of attention from our government but are a ticking time bomb if not resolved soon. But in all my existence I have never seen them being made a priority as the issue of the painting is being made into.

Being in the public eye in any democratic country at least means that you will be subject to scrutiny and satirical artists such as Brett Murray will use you as means of humour. Jonathan Zapiro is one of the most (in) famous cartoonists in South Africa. His work has included the likes of Mandela, Zille, Tutu and Zuma in the most unflattering way sometimes but none of them has made a fuss about it but Zuma and the ANC.

Is there ruling party becoming intolerant of what is meant to be funny and satirical? Or are artists like Zapiro and Murray simply picking on our President? Why are the ANC so easily offended by anything by this work of art?

A while back US president Barack Obama was seen in pictures circulating in the media and internet kissing European world leaders with tongue and all. Yes it was the work of some cartoonist or gallery(I stand corrected) but it got people all over the world talking. In a few days everyone news outlet that ran the story had already forgotten about it. You know why?

Obama and most of the leaders that were shown embracing in those pictures did not let themselves be drawn into some dialogue with those responsible. Sure they might not have liked it but instead of attacking the artist(s) they simply kept quiet and let it die down. Being drawn into a discussion with the artist would have caused unnecessary commotion like the ANC has managed to do with ones man’s portrayal of our president.

As I write this piece an urgent court interdict is being filed at some high court in Johannesburg to have the painting removed? Is all this necessary? Who will be footing the bill if this is prolonged into a court case? Is there ruling party justified in its reaction or are they overreacting to what is supposed to be a funny piece?

All I know I know is that if we devoted as much time and energy to the real problems that the country is facing as we are to this thing, al lot would be solved! The ANC is not the only organisation that is to blame when it comes to blowing things out of proportion.

If the media houses did not feel compelled to report to every action and reaction when it comes to matters like these, it would just die down! Yes the media has a duty to report on what our leaders are busy bickering about but is Jacob Zuma’s penis all that interesting that the country is faced with real problems such as crime, poverty and unemployment.

Everybody has an opinion and freedom of speech means that people are allowed to express it as long as they don’t infringe on other people’s rights. Just like the President and the ruling party welcome praise when it’s due, they should also acknowledge criticism and satirical work as exactly what they are.

So what if someone drew that president with his junk? Get over it people, every men on earth has a penis. President must just be proud of his business and attend to matters that really require his attention. The ANC must just sit down and relax, it’s not even their junk hanging out!