The top half of the semi-naked portrait of Jacob Zuma

 

The painting – which forms part of Murray’s “Hail to the Thief II” exhibition – has already been sold.

Buti Manamela, national secretary of the Young Communist League, weighed in, saying: “The movement has always promoted freedom of expression, but you cannot denigrate important figures.”

Ferial Haffajee, editor of City Press that carried the picture, fired back: “We take down the image in the spirit of peacemaking – it is an olive branch. But the debate must not end here and we should all turn this into a learning moment, in the interest of all our freedoms.

“Of course, the image is coming down from fear too. I’d be silly not to admit that. The atmosphere is like a tinderbox: City Press copies went up in flames on Saturday; I don’t want any more newspapers burnt in anger.”

City Press’s stance had an unlikely defender in Julius Malema, the expelled president of the ANC’s youth wing. Malema said he intended to buy two copies, explaining: “Banning newspapers simply because we disagree with them, and boycotting them on the basis of believing that our conception of truth is absolute, poses a real threat to our democracy.”