Cape Town - It seems Cape Town is in the grip of a statue war after a sculpture of a naked President Jacob Zuma was discovered on Lion’s Head.
Hikers first spotted the bronze statuette with the inscription “The Swordsman of the Nation” and “Pay back the money” on it, at the weekend. Another message on the statue read: “If a criminal like this can get a statue, so can I – JZ.” The figurine had a pink vibrator in the one hand.
But the naked statue’s moment in the sun was short-lived, as on Monday it was found vandalised. Someone had attacked the statue, breaking off the top half, and all that now remains is the torso and legs.
It is not yet known who created the piece, who put it on the mountain, or who destroyed it.
Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille has condemned the statue.
“The statue was erected without due process being followed and is therefore illegal,” said her spokesperson Pierrinne Leukes.
“We will be removing it and condemn people putting up statues without the necessary authority.”
Leukes pointed out that technically the land belonged not to the city, but to SA National Parks.
This is not the first time Zuma has been the subject of a controversial work of art.
The Spear painting also depicted Zuma with his manhood exposed.
The artwork, exhibited by the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, sparked a lawsuit by the ANC, and was vandalised in May 2012.
Daily Voice and ANA