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Government is appalled by Zapiro’s disparaging and repulsive cartoon in the July 6 to 12 2012 edition of the Mail & Guardian.

The cartoon is a defamatory attack on President Jacob Zuma’s character and violates the President’s rights to dignity as enshrined in the Constitution. It is disappointing that the Mail & Guardian published such a demeaning cartoon, especially following the recent debate about another offensive artwork.

While the Constitution and the government of South Africa promote freedom of expression, artists should ensure that they do not infringe on the rights of others, and that they build cohesion, dignity and respect rather than undermine these imperatives.

Government calls on Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) to withdraw his cartoon, and urges the Mail & Guardian to remove it from its website.