ANC calls for boycott of City Press, Twitter users protest

South African citizens have taken to Twitter to support City Press after the ruling party called for a boycott of the newspaper. The name of the national paper, which published photographs of the controversial ‘Spear’ painting featuring president Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, trended on Twitter today as users voiced their opinions on the saga.

City Press‘s front page story described how ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had echoed the sentiments of SACP general secretary and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, who called for a boycott of the paper until it apologised for publishing photographs of the painting. Zuma has taken the newspaper and artist Brett Murray before the Film and Publications Board, accusing them of publishing pornography. The painting in question was vandalised this week.

Many Twitter users did not boycott the newspaper — instead, they described the difficulties they faced trying to locate a copy and photographed the edition when they did.

Well, I tried. Not a single #citypress paper left in my neighbourhood.

— David Taylor (@DaveTheCarGuy) May 27, 2012

Have to read #CityPress online.All sold out in my local outlets.

— Ian Neilson (@ianneilson) May 27, 2012

Bought my copy of @City_Press. Did you buy yours? #TwitPicYourCityPress #myCityPresspic twitter.com/MandyWiener/st…

— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) May 27, 2012

#TwitPicYourCityPress My five copies of City Press. #YOLOinstagr.am/p/LHrYgkKcEp/

— Khaya Dlanga (@khayadlanga) May 27, 2012

My City Press. Say no to thuggery #citypress Viva media freedom VIVA twitpic.com/9pryc5

— Reuben Goldberg (@RubyGold) May 27, 2012

Proudly reading #CityPress this weekend! #SouthAfrica #ANC #Zuma #ZumaSpear | twitter.com/Savo_Heleta/st…

— Savo Heleta (@Savo_Heleta) May 27, 2012

My Sunday reads won’t be boycotted. Especially @City_Press #TwitPicYourCityPress yfrog.com/esmxjgpj

— Thabo Seroke (@Thabo_SerokeY) May 27, 2012

They said boycott #Citypress and people went out to buy in numbers even those like me who don’t read @City_Press

— Edson Charikinya (@Charikinya) May 27, 2012

Some users also took the opportunity to describe their feelings about the column by former ANCYL president Julius Malema, who said he would buy the newspaper.

In shock. I agree with (nearly) every word Julius Malema wrote on pg 6 of #CityPress #TwitpicYourCityPress twitter.com/Sieraaj_Says/s…

— Sieraaj Ahmed (@Sieraaj_Says) May 27, 2012

Granted, Malema wrote a good piece, but the ‘we’ when he talked about the British Journo didn’t go unnoticed. Next line was ‘I’ #CityPress

— Nontobeko Nyandeni (@NontoNyandeni) May 27, 2012