A controversial painting disrespectfully depicting President Jacob Zuma is causing a political storm in South Africa as the country is heading to the August 3 local government elections.

In the painting, artist Ayanda Mabulu depicts Zuma performing analingus on Atul Gupta, a leading member of the Indian Gupta family which allegedly keeps close ties with Zuma. A flag of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) hangs in the scene - a plane's cockpit, a not-so-subtle metaphor for capital flight.

The painting has fuelled debate on social media, with Mabulu receiving plenty of flak for his "disrespectful" and "disgusting" painting from some corners, whereas others praised his bold stand.

Mabulu maintains that the art work is a response to allegations of state capture by the Gupta family which allegedly exerts undue influence on Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers and the constitutional court ruling in March which found Zuma having failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution in regards to the Nkandla scandal in which Zuma is accused of abusing public funds to pay security upgrades at his private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal Province.

"Why must I hide the truth when it is as blatant as the sun," Mabulu said in response to a question about his use of sexual scenarios in depicting the political leadership of the country.

On Wednesday, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) added its voice to the debate, saying, "This is no art work, not the one we can be proud about."

The ANCYL whilst is committed to protect the freedom of speech, it wishes to warn Ayanda Mbulu that the recent portrait purported to be an artwork is in fact not artwork but an insult to Zuma, who is also the President of the ANC and the country.

"This is an insult which we must not accept as the society. Artwork should have creativity in it being carried-out but in the work of Ayanda this is not the case," ANCYL national spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said.

The ANCYL calls upon all citizens to desist from this kind of insult, he said.

"South Africa is the only country where a seating Head of State can be insulted with impunity. As the ANCYL we will not stand for this kind of behavior. We say this with a background that many people have passed on in fighting for democracy not for it to be abused.

"We want everyone to note that this kind of work is provoking and may elicit a response by others to Ayanda. This is not art but an insult and Ayanda should know better than to continue to do the nonsense that is before us now," said Mkhize.

The ANCYL calls upon all to remember that for every right that they enjoy there is a responsibility that they must at all times observe, he said.

"There is no right that is absolute and without responsibility in South Africa. We call upon all young people to protect the President's integrity," Mkhize said.

"We want to caution all that such pictures create anger in some quarters thus this might create confrontational relations between those that continue to create such pictures. We call on Ayanda to halt such pictures regardless of who is involved. These pictures are not only demeaning but also offensive," the spokesperson said.

ANC officials say the display of the painting is designed to tarnish the image of the ANC which is going all out to win the local elections.

The party is facing the most fierce competition from opposition parties since the end of apartheid in 1994. The opposition Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters have vowed to take over major municipalities like Johannesburg, Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Bay from the ANC in the elections. Endit

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