Here we go again: Cartoon of SA president causes Twitter storm

Here we go again. Another illustration involving South African president Jacob Zuma has the country in a froth. This time though, it’s not a painting and it’s not hanging in a prominent gallery.

The work in question comes from satirical cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro. In the cartoon, Zuma is depicted as an actual penis looking at himself in a mirror.

The cartoon, which appeared in the Friday edition of South African national weekly newspaper the Mail & Guardian, makes direct reference to Brett Murray’s ‘The Spear‘ painting.

The painting, which became controversial after the ruling party took offence to it and tried to obtain an interdict to have it removed, became even more famous after it was vandalised and even inspired its own set of memes.

Today a number of South Africans took to Twitter to discuss the Zapiro cartoon with some suggesting he had crossed the boundaries of freedom of speech:

Just saw @Zapiro‘s latest work on #TheSpear & choked on my Rooibos Tea. Eish!

— RenéDelCarme (@ReneDelCarme) July 6, 2012

That Zapiro chap grossly envies the attention Brett Murray got. He’s now screaming: ‘Me too, me too’. Grow up man.

— Fana Mokoena (@fanamokoena) July 6, 2012

We have to draw a line RT @Mkgadyfoxx: Batho ba itaola ka polelo tjo “kilo: Today’s Zapiro cartoon. This is just wrong lockerz.com/s/222644798“

— Ralph (@kingkilo) July 6, 2012

Prominent columnist David Bullard didn’t question whether or not the cartoon crossed the bounds of freedom of speech, but did suggest that it was all a publicity stunt:

If he wasn’t such a two faced, snivelling little leftie git I would LEAP to Zapiro’s defence.

— David G Bullard (@lunchout2) July 6, 2012

Let’s get real people…the M&G Zapiro cartoon, like St Ferial’s The Spear, is nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt to boost sales.

— David G Bullard (@lunchout2) July 6, 2012

Others congratulated the ANC on its decision not to take the legal route against Zapiro as it did with Brett Murray and the Goodman Gallery:

Media Tribunal dropped, Boeing deal cancelled, AND ANC won’t sic lawyers on Zapiro. A good day for our democracy.

— Gus Silber (@gussilber) July 6, 2012

Sounds like the ANC finally gets the Streisand Effect. Mantashe says it won’t sue on #Zapiro, so giving attention to “spoilt children”.

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) July 6, 2012

Some though just expressed exhaustion at the thought of having to deal with another crisis involving the presidential genitalia:

Dear Zapiro, please spare me. I don’t have energy for more of this politicised genitals business, please! Draw something else or take leave!

— SongZ (@SongezoZibi) July 6, 2012

Dear #SA, here’s the Zapiro cartoon you’ll be hearing about for the next month ad nauseum. twitter.com/EvLom/status/2…

— Evert Lombaert (@EvLom) July 6, 2012

Oh noooo. A week of penile dementia looms for SA. Thanks for nothing @zapiro! Unusually bad & uncalled-for cartoon.

— Carlos Amato (@CarlosBAmato) July 6, 2012

In an amusing side note, the ANC Women’s League Spokesperson Troy Martens mistakenly outed fund manager David Shapiro as the man behind the cartoon:

Someone teach @Troy_Martens how to use Google! #ShapiroZapiro

— Hilton Tarrant (@hiltontarrant) July 6, 2012

@hiltontarrant thanks will try my best to always utilize google in future, cuz its always right! 😉 #OnlyHuman

— Troy Martens (@Troy_Martens) July 6, 2012

@AsandaMbetshe yeah totally my error think I’m so used to hearing the name @davidshapiro61 that I accidentally … m.tmi.me/sZ7B3

— Troy Martens (@Troy_Martens) July 6, 2012