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Siwela writes:

From The Citizen: Editors mull Haffajee decision :

Newspaper editorials and cartoons on Tuesday showed mixed responses to City Press editor Ferial Haffajee's decision to remove an image of a painting depicting President Jacob Zuma with genitals exposed.

29 May 2012 | Sapa     

JOHANNESBURG - Citizen cartoonist Siwela sketched a triptych of Haffajee's journey through the controversy with the first speech bubble saying "I won't...", the second saying "...take the picture down..." and the third "...unless you bully me."

A strap at the bottom read "The editor's indecision is final..."

After more than a week of controversy over whether artist Brett Murray should have painted The Spear and whether Haffajee should have published an image of it, Haffajee took the image down on Monday.

She had originally said she would not but since then, in a piece explaining her decision, she said a boycott was called, she was personally insulted, newspaper vendors were intimidated and a journalist was evicted from a conference.

The Citizen said it was easy when not at the centre of a storm to pass judgement, but it was different when newspapers were being burnt, vendors intimidated and journalists evicted.

"While sympathising with the newspaper, we regret the impression that the bullies have won."
[STORY CONTINUES]

Siwela

Siwela

Themba Siwela was born in the 1970's in a humble village north of Durban called Kwa Mashu. He left school early to earn his keep, gathering his pencils, paints and…>

'Ferial Withdraws 'The Spear'': Africartoons.com
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© Siwela | May 29, 2012 | The Citizen

Ferial Withdraws 'The Spear'

FERIAL HAFFAJEE, Editor of City Press, commenting on our facebook post of this cartoon objected to it (on the grounds that cartoonists never get her nose right!), and then promptly asked for a copy of it. If only politicians would take a similar view to being caricatured and satirised. [Also see a report in the Citizen via the link in the Sidelines column].

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