Zuma artwork below the belt

A cropped picture of R is for Respect, a cartoon by Anton Kannemeyer.

A cropped picture of R is for Respect, a cartoon by Anton Kannemeyer.

Published Oct 5, 2015

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Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma’s privates are back in the spotlight.

Zuma’s manhood is the subject of two new artworks which are going on exhibition this week.

R is for Respect, a cartoon by Anton Kannemeyer, shows a giant black penis hovering over a group of angry protesters, carrying a banner that reads: “Respect for the president’s penis now!”

Kannemeyer also drew P is for Pretoria, with the huge penis this time over the Union buildings, quoting Zuma’s infamous understanding of rights.

The caption on the cartoon reads: “You have more rights because you’re a majority, you have less rights because you’re a minority. That’s how democracy works.”

Kannemeyer told the Guardian newspaper he drew the cartoon in response to the protests around Brett Murray’s artwork The Spear, and in opposition to what he felt was censorship.

The Spear, which shows a standing Zuma with his penis hanging out, triggered a defamation lawsuit by the African National Congress and was vandalised in May 2012.

Kannemeyer says: “I think that sounds like censorship and not the kind of thing I should do. I think R is for respect, respect for the president’s penis now, and it must be drawn.”

The government has condemned the cartoon, with deputy minister in the presidency Buti Manamela saying: “We don’t have time for bigotry and what clearly is racism being projected as art.”

Kannemeyer’s other artwork includes Jesus masturbating next to a rugby player in a wheelchair, and Oscar Pistorius holding up a SA flag under the banner M is for murder and mayhem.

Daily Voice

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