ANC STATEMENT ON THE APPLICATION FOR INTERDICT

The African National Congress has tonight served court papers to Goodman Gallery and the City Press Newspaper respectively. These court papers are seeking to interdict both parties from displaying and exhibiting on their website or any other platform including the online channels the offensive and distasteful so-called portrait of President Jacob Zuma.

It is our view that the continued display and exhibition of this so-called portrait will continue to be an affront to the dignity and the privacy of President Zuma in all his capacities but also as a South African whose right to human dignity and privacy is protected and guaranteed by the South African Constitution.

This matter between our-self (ANC and its President as first and second applicants) and the two parties, Goodman Gallery and the City Press as first and second respondents has been put for urgent hearing by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday 22nd May 2012 at 12h00.

We resorted to this urgent court application because our plea to both the parties, who are respondents, of removing this offensive so-called portrait fell on deaf earns. An urgent application to the High Court was then the last resort. We are confident that the remedy we seek from the South Gauteng High Court, which is the removal of this so-called piece of art from display and all other platforms, will ensure that the violation of the dignity, reputation and integrity of President Zuma is immediately stopped.

Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, ANC national spokesperson, May 19 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter