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AFRICARTOONS HAS RECEIVED A NUMBER OF MESSAGES OBJECTING TO THE ABOVE CARTOON (AND A SIMILAR NUMBER OF SHARES AND 'LIKES' IN SUPPORT OF IT). The following is an explanation of our policy, which we posted on facebook. We hope it will find understanding amongst most level headed persons.

We regret the discomfort the above cartoon has caused many of our readers, and sincerely hope they will consider the following rationale.

- Africartoons posts cartoons by SA's top cartoonists and encourages the commentary they initiate. To this end, we respect the strong views expressed here objecting to the cartoon.

- We post a broad spectrum of cartoons, representative of a wide diversity of views. Thus, we don't only post cartoons that we agree with, but sometimes those we don't agree with.

- However, if we were to censor every cartoon that someone found to be objectionable, we'd find ourselves censoring almost every cartoon we post. Consider the number of cartoons that criticise the governing party, and the majority of the electorate that might find those cartoons objectionable, or the cartoons that criticise other political parties and how they may offend their followers. Editorial cartoons, by their very nature, are generally bound to offend someone.

- That said, it is not our intention to gratuitously offend people, and so we refrain from posting cartoons that offend for the sake of offending. 

- Our interpretation of the above cartoon is that it makes no comment on Christianity other than to use the crucifix as a metaphor to comment on Gerrie Nel's 'cross' examination of Oscar Pistorius, the play of words being the only connection between the Oscar Trial and the seasonally relevant crucifixion of Jesus.

- We understand, and respect that some people of faith might not see it this way, and we hope that they will use the forum of these comments to express their arguments, that others may learn from them, or debate them, as they deem fit. 

- Those few who have elected instead to 'unfollow' africartoons, we will miss you. But your passionate opinions amongst future comments will be most missed, because we believe that it is in the debate that our cartoons are catalysts for is where this page's best value may be found.