PIC: (INTERNET)

BY Obakeng Maje

JOHANNESBURG-President Jacob Zuma this morning boarded a train from Pretoria to Johannesburg, Park-Station where he was assessing the Gauteng Public System. 

He outlined some few concerning issues raised by sometimes frustrated commuters. The commuters said  sometimes trains delayed and that make them to arrived late at work. 

The other concerns raised are security and safety as the major issue. President Jacob Zuma highlighted major deficiencies with Gauteng’s Metrorail service.

Earlier, he boarded the train from Pretoria to Rhodesfield in Kempton Park.

“We were in the Metrorail trains and listened to the commuters and we were cramped and sat uncomfortably. he said”

Four people appeared in court on Wednesday on charges related to a controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma in the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.

Businessman George Moyo was the first to appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court after the first three letters of the word “respect” were spraypainted on a white wall of the gallery, off Jan Smuts Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.

Then, Barend la Grange and Louis Mabokela appeared in court after La Grange was filmed by e.tv brushing red paint over parts of the portrait that led Zuma and the ANC to initiate court action to have the painting removed.

The painting depicted Zuma with his genitals exposed.

Mabokela was filmed a few minutes later smearing black paint with his hands over Zuma’s face and other parts of the painting.

Each of the three left the court on bail of R1000 with Moyo due to return on June 14 and La Grange and Mabokela on June 24.

Then, gallery security guard Paul Molesiwa, who had been filmed head-butting and flipping Mabokela to the floor, was arrested and appeared in the same court on an assault charge, laid by Mabokela on Tuesday evening.

Outrage greeted the treatment of Mabokela compared with the apparent gentle handling of La Grange, with many commenting on Facebook and talk radio that this was race-based discrimination.

Molesiwa would return to court on May 28.

Meanwhile, three judges of the High Court in Johannesburg will hear the application by Zuma, the ANC and some of Zuma’s children to have the painting removed from the gallery and an image of it removed from City Press’s website.

City Press is opposing removing the image and the matter has been escalated to a freedom of expression issue.

The Film and Publications Board will also hold hearings next Tuesday to decide whether the painting, still alive in cyberspace, needs to be classified as pornography.

There was no further word on Wednesday on whether Enoch Mthembu, a spokesman for the Nazareth Baptist Church, will retract a statement that Murray should be ‘stoned’ because of the work.

Meanwhile. commentators showed signs of tiring of the subject, with AfriForum saying the painting was offensive and in poor taste.

“It is, however, unfortunate that this matter is playing out within the context of the ANC’s selective morality regarding human dignity,” said AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel.

The party was preparing to appeal a ruling against the singing of a lyric that translates to “shoot the boer”, but was offended when their leader’s dignity was violated, he continued.

Kriel said it was a pity the message in Murray’s other work of the corruption and moral decay in the ANC had been undermined by the “humiliating” painting.

The Black Lawyer’s Association (BLA) rejected the “scholastic” arguments on freedom of expression put forward in support of displaying the portrait, saying it bordered on serious disrespect to Zuma and violated his rights.

“Our view would equally hold for any living human being, let alone the President,” said BLA president Busani Mabunda.

It offends African culture, and cannot be tolerated, Mabunda said.

“If anything, the conduct is almost an equivalent of subjecting an individual to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.”

The Media Review Network (MRN) likened the controversy to that of outrage caused by cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammed.

In this particular case the real issues were freedom of expression against the right to dignity, MRN chairman Zaakir Ahmed Mayet said.

“We as the Media Review Network question the wisdom behind such a painting as it has only produced divisions within our community, impaired dignity and has failed dismally in forwarding society towards justice and freedom both at home and abroad.”

On Tuesday the gallery said the painting would be moved, but further information was not available on Wednesday. – Sapa

President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday defended his leadership of South Africa and the ANC.

People had told him that he could not rule the country because he was not educated, he said in isiZulu at the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) national congress in Kempton Park.

“I knew what I was doing then and I know what I am doing now,” he said.

“I am not here by mistake,” he added.

“The issue is how do we make South Africa succeed? How do we bring about prosperity in our country?”

He took a swipe at people with big mouths.

“That task is not for many of the people who talk too much, that task is now in our hands.

“I am not like people who come today and speak louder, who were not there when things were tough.”

Without mentioning them by name, Zuma said he did not judge them.

“And we have never judged them …I think we are kind because we have a deeper understanding of the destiny of our people, the destiny of this country.”

Zuma is campaigning to be re-elected as ANC president in December – and the NUM is a key constituent of the ANC. – Sapa

JOHANNESBURG – Two unknown men have defaced the controversial artwork of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed on Tuesday.

Caught on an eNews camera, The first man took a small can of red paint and slowly marked two large ‘X’ symbols over the genitals and the face with a paintbrush.

After a while, another man with a small can of black paint smeared the painting using his hands.

Footage on eNews showed security forcefully cuffing the men with cable ties after the painting had been defaced.

eNews journalist Iman Rappetti witnessed the incident, “Suddenly I see him whip out a can of red paint and a paint brush and he draws an ‘X’ over the genital area.

“He had a smile on his face which also appeared bizarre to me.

“Then he painted an ‘X’ on the president’s face and I realised something was wrong, so I apprehended him and asked ‘What are you doing?’

The men have since been detained by the gallery’s security.

Meanwhile, dozens of protestors have gathered outside the South Gauteng High Court after Zuma took the gallery and City Press newspaper to court.

Gauteng Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo decided that a full bench of three judges will now hear the case around the Goodman Gallery’s picture of Zuma

Police have surrounded the area and a small stage is being set up outside with music blurring as protesters sing and dance.|

Many are holding up posters that read “no to the abuse of artistic expression.”

Young students are also demonstrating.

They said Murray’s painting was disrespectful to the president and should be removed.

Zuma’s children have also been allowed to intervene in the case.

The judge said the decision has been made because of the huge national importance attached to the issue.

A lawyer representing Zuma’s children has also applied to allow them to be part of the case.

Meanwhile, the artist Brett Murray, is also going to be allowed to argue along with the gallery that his work should still be exhibited.

At the same time, e-news has been allowed to broadcast from the courtroom when the proceedings begin on Thursday morning.

Murray’s artwork “The Spear” has been slammed by Cosatu, ANC, ANCWL, SACP and Zuma’s family for showing the president’s genitals.

(Edited by Lindiwe Mlandu) 

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• Mdluli: ‘officers threatened’

There was “no need for alarm” regarding former crime intelligence boss Lieutenant-General Richard Mdluli, President Jacob Zuma said in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

There was “concern” over recent negative publicity related to crime intelligence, despite the “sterling” work police continued to perform, he said at a business briefing.

Zuma did not mention Mdluli by name, but referred to “the matter affecting the police crime intelligence unit”.

“Our country has enough instruments to ensure that there is no abuse of power or resources to further any objectives, especially by our intelligence and security services.”

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa had established a task team to look into the matter, and a report was expected within a month.

“In addition, the inspector general of intelligence has the legal mandate of oversight with regard to the financial management of crime intelligence.”

The inspector general, Faith Radebe, was also empowered to look into any other matters that could be brought to light by the investigation, Zuma said.

Last week, the presidency said reports that Zuma interfered in Mdluli’s investigation, and that he attended a party to celebrate Mdluli’s acquittal, were “complete fabrications”.

“We wish to urge the media to be cautious and stick to the facts when reporting such matters,” it said.

Last Wednesday, Mthethwa announced Mdluli would be move from head of crime intelligence to another position within the police.

Non-profit organisation Freedom Under Law applied for an urgent interdict on Tuesday preventing Mdluli from serving in the police. It also wanted to interdict Mthethwa from moving Mdluli to a new position before a review of his reinstatement.

Last year, Mdluli faced fraud and corruption charges relating to the alleged misuse of a crime intelligence fund, the purchase of luxury vehicles and the hiring of family members. He also faced a murder charge following the murder of a former lover’s boyfriend, Oupa Ramogibe.

Both sets of charges were withdrawn and Mdluli was reinstated as head of crime intelligence. The murder investigation became an inquest. – Sapa