New York, U.S.A – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the campaign of harassment and intimidation against a newspaper in South Africa after it published a photo of a painting of President Jacob Zuma more than two weeks ago.

On May 13, local private weekly City Press published an art review of an exhibition in Johannesburg that featured a painting of a Soviet-era propaganda poster casting Zuma in the mold of Vladimir Lenin with exposed genitals, according to news reports. After a series of criticism and threats against the paper in the week of 28 May, the paper’s editor-in-chief, Ferial Haffajee, announced the removal of the photo from the website on Monday, she said in an op-ed.

Haffajee told CPJ 31 May 2012 that she had received a letter from a government official that said the paper’s coverage could instigate a race war if they continued to report on Zuma. Days before City Press removed the photo, news accounts reported that a City Press reporter was obstructed from covering a local union meeting on Saturday, while others said that on Sunday, protesters from Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party had burned copies of the paper that featured the painting.

The ANC released a statement on May 24 saying that City Press had singled itself out as being against Zuma, the ANC, “our democracy, and the majority of South Africans.” Jackson Mthembu, a spokesman for the party, called the newspaper “a perpetrator of injustice and slander,” and told supporters “to indefinitely boycott buying the City Press Newspaper … until the removal of the insulting portrait of President Jacob Zuma from their website.”

On 31 May 2012, the Goodman Gallery announced that it had reached a deal with the ANC to remove the painting permanently, according to news reports.

“We condemn acts of intimidation and threats against City Press, as they undermine the rule of law in South Africa and curtail the freedom of the press to report on speech critical of the authorities,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “As head of the ANC and the ruling coalition, President Jacob Zuma must call his supporters to restraint. We hold the government responsible for the safety of the staff of City Press.”

Zuma had filed a complaint at the Gauteng High Court on May 18 seeking the removal of the painting from both the gallery and the newspaper’s website, arguing that the artwork depicted him as a “philanderer, a womanizer, and one with no respect.” In court, City Press argued, as shown in an affidavit published online, that its decision to publish the photo was lawful and “amounted to the publication of legitimate criticism” in light of the president’s public admission of extramarital affairs and involvement in several sex scandals in office, the newspaper reported.

The Film and Publication Board also summoned City Press for a meeting, but then referred the case 30 May 2012 to the Press Ombudsman, who could take disciplinary action against the publication, according to news reports.

“It is a view I still live by and have never claimed that my or City Press’ freedom of expression is limitless. But our right to publish and to free expression is constitutional,” wrote Haffajee in an earlier Sunday op-ed.

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A rather controversial painting recently went on display at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa. The painting “The Spear” features the current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, with his genitals exposed. Considering South Africa’s history with apartheid and racism, this painting stirred emotions of fear and anger within the entire country at the apparent racism and disrespect behind it.

The artist of this painting, Brett Murray, is a prominent figure in the South African artistic world. Based in Cape Town, he established the sculpture department at the University of Stellenbosch, and he co-founded the Section 27 company known as ‘Public Eye’ which helps to increase the profile for public art in Cape Town.

He often curates shows and has his own solo shows. His works are also housed in a number of prestigious public collections in South Africa and abroad. What, then, could the motive be behind this prominent artist’s ‘inappropriate’ portrayal of the South African president?

Historical intersections of art and politics can testify to the role of some artists as powerful political commentators. The question is to what extent art is and should be free to express itself fully and in any way that it wishes? To what extent can it be accepted as ‘art for art’s sake’?

In the time of Stalin’s rule as Premier of the Soviet Union, there were various restrictions and rules on the nature of art and music created – music that did not follow these ‘rules’ were subsequently banned and/or their authors suffered major professional and personal consequences. It was only after Stalin’s death in 1953 that some Russian composers aired their feelings and opinions of this ruler.

For example, the brutal and savage second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony has been described as a ‘musical portrait of Stalin himself’. Although such anti-Stalin expressions were banned during Stalin’s rule, they could never be permanently excluded from the Russian arts.

An American equivalent of this controversial painting is the anti-Obama poster used by critics of the Obama administration, a poster also known as the Barack Obama ‘joker’ poster. This poster, which features Obama as ‘The Joker’ from the film ‘The Dark Knight’, has been described as racist, poisonous and mocking – but it has also been described as brilliant and artistic.

A challenge has been issued for the creator(s) of this image to come forward and explain themselves. The image seems to be infamous and to have created a stir, and yet is accepted as a mere form of protest against the current American government.

Could Murray’s supposedly ‘anti-Zuma’ painting then be considered a mere form of political protest against the current political party. Surely one cannot prevent art from being an expression of a culture, a nation and its thoughts: the problems of different eras.

Yes, ‘The Spear’ could be meant as political protest, but South Africa’s historical and current problems with racism makes this particular ‘political protest’ verge on the unacceptable. The president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Senzeni Zokwana, expressed the criticism that this painting is how white people ultimately regard and see black people in South Africa.

The painting might be infamous for its inappropriate depiciton of a prominent figure in South Africa, yet most criticism against ‘The Spear’ is not aimed at its deformation of the president’s character. In fact, most criticism seems to be aimed at the apparent racism implied through the painting.

The issue at stake, then, is not Murray’s motives behind creating this painting, nor is it whether such a depicition of the president should be accepted or even allowed. The issue is that this painting has highlighted the fear and possible remaining presence of racism in South Africa. As long as the issue of racism remains prominent in the country, any form of anti-stance to a political party or prominent figure could be ascribed to racism.

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In a speech at the Sullivan Honors Awards, President Obiang discussed the promotion of African integration by leading Equatorial Guinea toward a better future by facing its challenges and achieving the country’s desired self-improvement and progress. President Obiang has led the efforts of the African community while promoting the continent and carrying out the development of Equatorial Guinea.

“Equatorial Guinea, as a unified country, knows that in order to achieve self-improvement and progress, we have to face problems and challenges, with the support of friendly countries and the international community,” said President Obiang.

President Obiang received the Beacon for Africa award at the 2011 Sullivan Honors event on December 15, in recognition of his leadership of the African Union and his exemplary contributions to improving the lives of Africa’s most vulnerable citizens. The Sullivan Honors event is one of Washington’s greatest cultural highlights of the year.

Hope Masters, president of the Administrative Council of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, praised President Obiang for his exemplary leadership and contributions to rebuilding Equatorial Guinea.

“This was a great opportunity to discuss continued development in the region and ways to collectively expand our role as part of  the international community,” said President Obiang. “I believe Africa has a positive future ahead of us as long as we continue to work together.”

President Obiang joined leaders from around the world to honor African individuals who are leading and serving the international community. The honorees have selflessly dedicated themselves to humanitarian efforts on the African continent. Together they showed their appreciation for the honorees at the Leon H. Sullivan Honors event at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

“A commitment to ensuring that the dignity of the people they serve has been maintained is critical in determining who will be named a Sullivan Honoree. The ability to ignite that spark of hope, to provide to those less fortunate, while improving their quality of life, has been a common characteristic embodied by each of our honorees. I commend our past honorees and am confident that our new honorees will uphold their passion for championing Africans,” said Ambassador Andrew Young, former US Ambassador to the United Nations.

The Sullivan Honors has been conferred upon individuals who have demonstrated unique leadership in enhancing the lives of the underprivileged, the vulnerable, and the destitute in Africa. Previous Sullivan Honorees include former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, General Colin Powell, current President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, current President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, current President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A full list of previous Sullivan Honorees can be found on the Sullivan Foundation’s website, www.thesullivanfoundation.org.

Equatorial Guinea’s government has adopted special programs for the promotion and protection of human rights with the help of the International Red Cross, which has verified the performance of state institutions by selecting and implementing programs that improve the level of social indicators.

“The positive effects of these programs have resulted in an increased school ratio, life expectancy, malaria reductions, as well as the progressive increase of technical and professional staff,” said President Obiang. “Our country recently went through a constitutional change that strengthened the powers of the state institutions, promoted the alteration in power and regulated the strict separation of powers, as well as transparency and equity in public affairs.”

This reform was approved and voted by the majority of the population.

In addition to President Obiang, numerous heads of state from Africa attended this year’s 2011 Sullivan Honors event, showing unity and cooperation among one another. They included President John A. Kufuor, former President of Ghana; President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria; Prime Minister Guillaume Soro of Cote D’Ivoire; and President Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/equatorial_guinea/

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For one week in late June, first lady Michelle Obama visited South Africa. This trip highlights the value of South Africa’s partner with the United States in many issues other than politics.

“What is significant about the trip is that it underscores the fact that South Africa, since the establishment of nonracial (politics) has had a string of credible elections, is a country characterized by the rule of law, and is a democracy,” said John Campbell, Ralph Bunche chair in African Policy Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The first lady arrived in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday, June 20, with her two daughters, Sasha and Maila, her mother, and a niece and nephew. This was her fourth trip to the continent and her second solo official visit. The mission behind this trip was to focus on youth leadership and education, including meetings with key figures in the anti-apartheid struggle.

On her agenda, Mrs. Obama was expected to meet with South African President Jacob Zuma, Nobel Iaureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, along with 75 young women leaders including Brendah Nyakudya. She was also scheduled to visit Botswana, Soweto and Robben Isand, where Nelson Mandela was held for a majority of the 27 years he was in detention for fighting apartheid.

Though her schedule, released by the White House, did not mention a meeting with Mandela, Mrs. Obama met with him on Tuesday, June 21, accompanied by her niece and nephew.

On her schedule, she was expected to meet with President Jacob Zuma. However, Zuma’s aides said that he was “not available” to meet her. Instead, he arranged for Corrective Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to greet her on her arrival, and one of his three wives, Nompumelelo Ntuli-Zuma, to meet her briefly on Tuesday. Zuma was out of the country for the first day of Mrs. Obama’s trip, but returned Monday night.

Unfortunately, this trip coincides with a cooling in relations between South Africa and the United States. The previous week, President Jacob Zuma issued a sharp riposte to an appeal by Hilary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State, to African leaders to help remove Libya’s Col Muammar Gaddafi.

“We strongly believe that the [UN Security Council] resolution is being abused for regime change, political assassinations and foreign military occupation,” he told parliament the day after Mrs. Clinton’s speech.

Many insisted that Zuma snubbed the first lady, but his spokesman, Zizi Kodwa, said that the president’s diary was full and could not be easily changed, and there was simply no time to fit Mrs. Obama in on her visit.

While Michelle Obama’s intentions for trip was purely for the youth, the trip had faced many criticisms and disappointment from Africa advocates who argue that President Obama, whose father was Kenyan, hasn’t devoted enough time to the continent since winning the presidency. The trip was meant to meet with the youth, yet Mrs. Obama focused her attention and time to meet key officials.

Mwiza Munthali, public outreach director of TransAfrica Forum, argues that U.S. officials “are not seeing Africa as a big priority. There has been some ambivalence.” The president has made just one trip to sub-Saharan Africa since his Jan. 2009 inauguration and has chosen not to accompany his wife on her journey.

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