‘Offensive’ Zuma sculpture dismantled

Hikers said they found the squat bronze statue of a naked President Jacob Zuma offensive.

Hikers said they found the squat bronze statue of a naked President Jacob Zuma offensive.

Published Apr 8, 2015

Share

Cape Town - The squat bronze statue of a naked President Jacob Zuma that mysteriously appeared on Lion’s Head at the weekend has been removed, a spokesman from the Table Mountain National Park confirmed on Tuesday.

Rangers from the northern section of the park had dismantled the effigy, titled The Swordsman of the Nation, and the base it stood on, which had the inscription, “If a criminal like this can get a statue, so can I – JZ” by 9am on Tuesday.

No one knows who created the sculpture or when it was erected.

On Monday afternoon the top half – which depicted Zuma gripping a pink sex toy in his right hand – had been broken off.

SANParks spokeswoman Tarcia Hendricks said they removed the statue after receiving complaints from hikers that it was offensive.

In a statement on Monday, mayor Patricia de Lille denounced the incident, saying the sculpture was put up without due process and is illegal.

Since the mountain is technically under the jurisdiction of SANParks, a spokesman from the mayor’s office said the city would issue a compliance letter to SANParks if the sculpture had not been removed by 5pm on Tuesday.

[email protected]

Cape Argus

Related Topics: