Tag: Zapiro

Forget the maths, South Africa needs more Marxism at school

The road to success is paved with comic-book Marxism.

Over the last few days, South Africa’s “minister of basic education” – yes, we have such a thing – announced a few statistics that people found alternately shocking or “hilarious”. Everything in South Africa is “hilarious”: even the vicious murders and rapes we read about every day. As a society, South Africa has lost its way and all it can say is: “It’s hilarious,” meaning you should laugh about it. Every true “New South African” as the species self-identifies, is a sadist.

roodt_fbfotoNow, I can imagine that if the minister of “basic education” – or any other type of education – in another country announced that the average grade or mark in Grade 9 mathematics was 10%, there would be some kind of concern, if not an outcry. Even though we published the “hilarious” news on our website yesterday already, the national Business Day newspaper saw fit to carry it on its front page today. It gets worse: only 3% of Grade 9 pupils actually receive 50% or more for mathematics as we reported on Afrikaans praag. This is real progress, we are confidently assured.

As I commented previously, the provincial MEC for education in Kwazulu-Natal province actually ascribed poor academic prowess in maths to – you guessed it! – apartheid and poor old Dr. Verwoerd who was stabbed to death by Tsafendas:

Senzo Mchunu, MEC for Education in Kwazulu-Natal, declared in late July: “One of the points we found was a problem in Maths and Science. It was Verwoerd who made the subjects difficult because he thought blacks would be a threat to him.”

So there you have it: Dr. Verwoerd “made maths difficult”. That is why I think maths should be completely scrapped in most schools in South Africa and be replaced by courses in Marxism. As it is, knowledge of Karl Marx and the class struggle is what gets you into South African universities these days where the revolution has seen to it that all humanities faculties have been taken over by cultural and other Marxists, with the sciences not lagging far behind.

If you think I am making this stuff up, well, I hate to disillusion you. The worst of all is: if you dare question this kind of “logic”, you immediately get vilified as a “racist” or “white supremacist”, usually by other white people who have seen the light and also disdain anything male, European or mathematical.

Other school subjects preparing pupils for both undergraduate and graduate courses would be: whiteness and gender studies. Not only could you blame Verwoerd for “making maths difficult”, you could blame all dead white males for the calamity of inventing it in the first place: Leibniz, Fermat, Pascal, Von Neumann, Turing and others come to mind. Even Pythagoras and Euclid could be blamed for putting New-South African pupils through the stress of maths when they could be learning about Nelson Mandela and why being a man or a woman is just a “social construct”.

Get rid of calculus and replace it with class. And, of course, race: the ultimate obsession of the rabid cultural Marxists who are turning South Africa into a kind of B-movie version of Stalin’s Soviet Union in the 1930s. Except the Russians did not quite give up mathematics, and eventually developed a space programme.

South Africa also has a space programme of sorts: it consists of hurling projectiles into space, usually while standing on a freeway bridge with motorists passing underneath. Recently an Afrikaner woman, Irene Myburg, was killed by a rock hitting her full in the face in the passenger seat while being driven to Pretoria. In another incident just a few days ago, a rock was also thrown at ex-rugby player Hannes Strydom while driving down a deserted street in Pretoria. Unlike Irene Myburg, he survived the attack from our version of NASA “scientists”, equipped with large stones.

marx_for_beginnersHowever, South Africa has lots of “talented” cartoonists, such as Zapiro, who could convey the basic tenets of cultural Marxism to school children in comic books, a bit like those “Marx for beginners” or “Lenin for beginners” books that used to be popular a few decades ago. Marcuse, Adorno and Horkheimer could be immortalized in ink drawings and a few anti-white and anti-male slogans, supplanting “Verwoerdian” difficult mathematics.

As it is, the most successful people in South Africa are the so-called “tenderpreneurs” who do business with the state and get contracts via their cronies in government. Being a staunch advocate of affirmative action counts for a lot more in those circles than any actual engineering or technical expertise, so it makes sense for any would-be rand billionaire to study Marxism instead of algebra.

The road to success is paved with comic-book Marxism. I am sure our esteemed minister of “higher education”, Dr. Blade Nzimande, already understands it better than I, “damaged” as I was by an “apartheid education” which included Afrikaans, French, Latin and mathematics, could remotely attempt to do.


Outrage at Zapiro’s cartoon goes global

hinduThe controversy over Zapiro’s Lord Ganesha cartoon is causing outrage among the world’s 1 billion Hindu devotees, who are calling for an international apology and the removal of the cartoon from the internet.

As South African Hindus prepare to hold mass meetings and demonstrate at the Sunday Times offices in Durban, the Hindu community abroad has added its voice to the growing furore.

President of Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, in a statement from Nevada in the US on Wednesday, said Zapiro’s cartoon of Ganesha was hurtful and a trivialisation of a highly revered deity.

Zed urged Sunday Times editor, Phylicia Oppelt, as well as cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro to issue a formal apology immediately and remove the cartoon from their websites. He also urged the Hindus on the Times Media Group board to resign if no apology was offered.

The Sunday Times and Zapiro said they would not apologise for the cartoon.

Shapiro said his cartoon was not about religion and the image of Lord Ganesha was used as a metaphor.

Phylicia Oppelt, editor of the Sunday Times, said the cartoon made no comment on Hinduism or on Ganesha, but rather on the issue of CSA’s decision to sacrifice Lorgat to secure a lucrative Indian tour to South Africa later this year.

The cartoon depicts Lord Ganesha – as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – offering money to Cricket SA (CSA) in return for the sacrifice of its chief executive, Haroon Lorgat.

Zed said unnecessarily tying Ganesha in with the BCCI, depicting human sacrifice at his feet, and him holding a cricket bat and wads of money in his hands, instead of usual objects, like conch shell, was “highly inappropriate”.

He said Hinduism was the oldest and third-largest religion of the world, and was rich in philosophical thought.

“Symbols of any faith, larger or smaller, should not be mishandled,” he said.

Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the South African Hindu Maha Sabha, agreed.

He said he had been interviewed by a number of Indian media houses, including The Times of India.

“I have also spoken to the president of the BCCI and sent him a copy of the article, so I’m expecting a reaction soon.”

Trikamjee said the Hindu community was insulted by the refusal to apologise.

“We’re looking at pursuing legal action. The reaction from the Hindu community has been that of outrage. I don’t know if Shapiro is just pig-headed or doesn’t realise the impact on the community, particularly a week before Diwali. Lord Ganesha is revered by Hindus and is the object of prayer during Diwali.”

President for the Hindu Dharma Sabha, Ram Maharaj, said a mass meeting would be held next Wednesday at the Durban Hindu Temple at 7pm.

He said Shapiro’s refusal to apologise was “fuelling the fire of fury”.

“We will not allow anyone to trample upon Hindu insensitivities with impunity. We will take this to the constitutional court if we have to,” he said.

On Thursday, the Hindu Youth Network plans to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the Sunday Times offices in Durban where it intends to hand over a memorandum of its concerns.

Pregasen Pillay of the youth network said he was not surprised by the international response to the cartoon.

“To us, Lord Ganesha is like your best friend and when someone says something bad about your best friend, you will get upset. We would like Zapiro and the Sunday Times to reflect on what they have done and hopefully apologise. Our peaceful demonstration will reflect the values of Hinduism and we hope the Sunday Times will see that,” he said.

The Freedom of Expression Institute said it was concerned by the outrage over the cartoon.

“In advancing rights we see as due to us by the constitution we must not be forgetful of other rights that are crucial to the functioning of our democracy, key to which the Right to Freedom of Expression is. Included in this right is artistic expression. The importance of artistic expression is the provocation and facilitation of crucial debate that is often ignored or ‘brushed under the table’, as it inspires engagement on subjects that would otherwise not be spoken widely of, yet they are of key public interest, the importance of this to democratic discourse cannot be emphasised enough,” the organisation said in a statement.

“It is therefore important that such manner of expression is not censored in favour of personal interests that are far outweighed by the public good. In a manner of speaking we cannot have topics being ‘out of bounds’.

“Further a continued sacrifice of artistic expression to the wishes of some sections of society at the expense of the public’s right to be informed and having informed conversation and debate, may set a crippling precedent to the right of freedom of expression and journalistic freedom as it may advance to shield issues of concern such as corrupt practices and political malfunction. – Daily News

Why Zuma dropped Zapiro charges

President Jacob Zuma withdrew his claim for damages against cartoonist “Zapiro” to avoid setting a legal precedent, the presidency said on Sunday.

“The president… would like to avoid setting a legal precedent that may have the effect of limiting the public exercise of free speech, with the unforeseen consequences this may have on our media, public commentators and citizens,” his spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement on Sunday.

He said Zuma had decided to withdraw his claim, made in December 2008, against Jonathan “Zapiro” Shapiro and Avusa Media, the publishers of The Sunday Times, and the newspaper’s editor at the time Mondli Makhanya “after careful consideration and consultation with his legal team”.

He had also decided to make a contribution to their costs.

“It is the president’s view that a legal battle against individuals and institutions will be an unnecessary diversion,” said Maharaj.

Zuma would rather encourage the people he was taking action against to become partners in efforts to address the problems facing the country, and to get South Africans to reach out to each other across historical divides to forge a common nationhood, “putting the country first.”

Zuma had sought R5 million in damages for defamation and impairment of his personal dignity over the publication of Zapiro’s Lady Justice rape cartoon in September 2008.

He reduced his claim from R4 million to R100,000 last week, media lawyer Dario Milo said at the time. Zuma dropped his claim that the cartoon harmed his dignity, but maintained that it had harmed his reputation. He had still wanted an unconditional apology.

The matter was to have been heard by the High Court in Johannesburg on Monday.

The cartoon depicted Zuma loosening his trousers while Lady Justice was held down by since expelled African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, Congress of SA Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, all saying: “Go for it, boss.”

Zuma was acquitted of a rape charge in 2006

“The newspaper and the cartoonist wanted to perpetrate an image of the president as a sexual deviant, despite a court of law rejecting the allegations against him and clearing his name,” said Maharaj.

The representation was “hurtful and defamatory”, as the respondents had admitted in papers submitted to the High Court in Johannesburg, he said.

“This candid admission, whilst sought to be justified on other grounds, at least reflects an appreciation of the hurt and harm that such depiction brought about.”

Maharaj said Zuma’s decision to withdraw the matter was informed by three major considerations.

“Whereas the president believes that in an open and democratic society, a fine and sensitive balance needs to be maintained between the exercise of civil rights such as freedom of speech, and the dignity and privacy of others, that balance should be struck in favour of constitutional freedoms,” he said.

It was for this reason he wanted to avoid setting a legal precedent.

Maharaj said Zuma also wanted to encourage South Africans to solve problems caused by racist attitudes by removing the racial imprint on the way the country’s society was organised and structured, and through continuous political action and open dialogue across racial and cultural divides.

Matters relating to dignity and the public standing of individuals could not be mediated exclusively through the courts, he said.

“Essentially, what lies at the heart of the Sunday Times’ publication of the cartoon was a set of deeply ingrained prejudices regarding not only the president, but which extend to views about African males and sexual mores.

“While the courts exist in part to protect citizens against racial and cultural prejudice and bigotry, those scourges will not be eradicated from our body politic through litigation alone.”

Zuma’s decision was also rooted in his attempts to find a way out of the difficulties the country and its people were facing because of the global economic meltdown and its accompanying frustrations, and his call on all South Africans to work together to find lasting solutions. – Sapa

Zapiro’s cartoon of Zuma is ‘vulgar’ – Afriforum

Zapiro’s latest cartoon is a “vulgar portrayal” of President Jacob Zuma, lobby group AfriForum said on Monday.

The cartoon was “a vulgar portrayal of the president [and] unproductive and in poor taste.” AfriForum spokesman Ernst Roets said in a statement.

The cartoon by Jonathan Shapiro depicts an erect penis with a showerhead and legs standing before a mirror with an accompanying limerick about Zuma.

It was published in the Mail & Guardian on Friday.

Roets said the cartoon did not contribute towards finding a solution to South Africa’s problems.

“AfriForum is of the opinion that controversial issues in South Africa must be approached constructively and that it does not contribute to finding a solution when other people’s cultures are insulted in the process.”

Roets said although AfriForum supported freedom of speech and artistic experience, this cartoon called into question the matter of dignity.

He suggested artists “evaluate the possible consequences of their work before displaying it to the public”.

On Friday, government called for the removal of the cartoon from the Mail and Guardian website.

Spokesman Jimmy Manyi said the cartoon was a “defamatory attack” on Zuma’s character and violated his rights to dignity as enshrined in the Constitution.

SA Communist Party spokesman Malesela Maleka called it “B-grade schoolboy lavatory stuff, unworthy of a once talented cartoonist and unworthy of a newspaper that pretends to be serious”.

The African National Congress found it ” unacceptable and shocking”, while its Women’s League condemned it.

“The Zapiro cartoons rely on their shock value to make an impact, but calling the president of this great nation a ‘dick’ is unacceptable…” ANC Women’s League spokeswoman Troy Martens said.

Responding to criticism of the cartoon, Shapiro said on Friday the public should have the democratic right to be irreverent about leaders, especially those who “display hypocrisy”.

“My latest cartoon is meant to be scathing but humorous,” he said in an email, issued by his office, to Sapa.

“It’s also serious commentary about a seriously flawed, hypocritical leader.” – Sapa

South African government demands removal of Zapiro cartoon

The South African government called for the urgent removal of the latest Zapiro cartoon on President Jacob Zuma in the Mail & Guardian on Friday.

“Government calls on Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) to withdraw his cartoon, and urges the Mail & Guardian to remove it from its website,” government spokesman Jimmy Manyi said in a statement.

The cartoon was a “defamatory attack” on Zuma’s character and violated his rights to dignity as enshrined in the Constitution.

“It is disappointing that the Mail & Guardian published such a demeaning cartoon, especially following the recent debate about another offensive artwork.”

He was referring to a now-defaced painting by artist Brett Murray depicting Zuma with genitals exposed, which showed at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg in May.

“While the Constitution and the government of South Africa promote freedom of expression, artists should ensure that they do not infringe on the rights of others, and that they build cohesion, dignity, and respect rather than undermine these imperatives.

Earlier, the ANC, which Zuma heads, the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) issued statements condemning the cartoon.

It features an erect penis with a showerhead and legs with an accompanying limerick about Zuma.

The ANCWL said: “The Zapiro cartoons rely on their shock value to make an impact, but calling the president of this great nation a ‘dick’ is unacceptable and the WL would like to know who the ‘we’ he is referring to in the cartoon actually is, as the majority of the population who voted for the president clearly did not think this of Zuma.”

The ANC said: “As the ANC, we are taken aback by this so-called cartoon and comment by Zapiro.

“We find it unacceptable and shocking that after the harsh experiences that South Africa, the President, and his family experienced [a] few weeks ago, that Zapiro and the Mail and Guardian will find it appropriate to continue with the insults and hurt to the President, his family, and the broader ANC constituency.”

Numsa said it was “littered with venomous and deep personal hatred” of Zuma.

“As Numsa we can come to no other conclusion but to accept that some white progressives of yesteryear have become racist and colonialist in their outlook since the advent of our new democratic dispensation.”