Zuma jokes going too far?

South Africa President Jacob Zuma

Our president, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma commonly referred to by South Africans as JZ, has some what always been ridiculed by SA media and artists and understandably so.
I swear at times it's like he deliberately does things so we can pick on him but he is our president none the less, one of the most entertaining we've had by far. I mean really having a president who chants "Leth' umshini wami 'mshini wami, wena uyangibambezela" translated "Give me my machine, my machine gun, you're wasting my time", at almost every public appearance is definitely something...well unique.

JZ chanting Umshini wam' and doing the traditional Zulu dance

He's shower story also didn't help him much. For those of you reading from abroad, our president was accused of raping an HIV positive woman. He was vindicated but not before he had a chance to tell us that he was certain that he was not at risk of getting HIV because, even though they'd had unprotected sex, he had taken a shower afterwards hence he was safe...not the most intelligent thing to say hey.

Left: Zapiro's depiction of Zuma's shower comment





But even with all his shortfalls there's something very charming about the man, that much can not be denied, the man has 6 wives and probably counting and ...well nobody is really certain how many kids he has.

JZ with four of his wives at his 70th Birthday Celebration earlier this year

But even so, I too have to admit that the line has to be drawn somewhere, we need to have some level of respect for our president. Yes we don't agree with some of his moral decisions and well, decisions in general, but he is the head of state and therefore deserves respect from his public.
The latest depiction of our president by Capetown artist Brett Murray, displayed at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, has outraged the ANC and he, along with the gallery, will be facing legal action, understandably so. Murray's painting "The Spear" was sold for R 136 000 and was bought by a foreign buyer.

Brett Murray painting "The Spear" of Jacob Zuma.  Previously I posted the original with the jewels showing but thought it best I edit it.

 He won't be the first though, Murray can ask fellow artist Zapiro, who has also been sued quiet a few times actually by the president, how to handle this pickle he finds himself...shame neh...and all in the name of artistic freedom/freedom of speech. Kodwa honestly speaking you can't tell me Murray thought the ANC would be ok with this, I mean a waiter was found guilty of assault for accidentally spilling a drink on Zuma at last years Durban July.

Zapiro was sued 15 million for this cartoon of JZ seeing to be raping the justice system.