Mabulu has caused hurt with his ‘painbrush’

Zuma’s not my favourite person but he deserves respect, writes

from Johannesburg.

Sandile Ntuli

In my opinion, Ayanda Mabulu is one of the best artists in South Africa: one who has taken a particular liking to our very own babes wes’phithiphithi, President Jacob Zuma.

It was only a matter of time before Mabulu got hold of a paintbrush and turned it into a “painbrush” by lampooning the first citizen once again.

Zuma’s not my favourite person at the moment.

But he still deserves to be afforded respect and dignity nonetheless.

Mabulu’s disdain for the first citizen is clear.

This has seen another subject added to the mix in his latest offering: former president Nelson Mandela.

In the painting, Mabulu depicts Zuma and Mandela in an obscene fashion, leaving little to the imagination.

Mabulu’s gripe may be with Zuma, but with this artistic portrayal, the members of the Zuma and Mandela families have become collateral damage by association.

In Zuma’s case, the sins of the father are visited upon the sons – that is not justice.

Where the family of the subject depicted in the artwork is concerned, unnecessary pain, suffering and embarrassment may result when an artist doesn’t consider the grey areas – both on and off the canvas.

Ayanda Mabulu ought to take a bit of time to think before he paints.

Just saying.