[Debate] (Fwd) Zapiro doccie axed by Special Assignment again

[Patrick Bond]

SABC pull a stop on banned Zapiro show

    May 26 2009 at 09:12PM

The SABC has cancelled, for the second time, the broadcast of a 
documentary on political satire which was due to air on Tuesday evening.

The show was previously canned just before the elections last month and 
was due to be broadcast on Tuesday evening.

"Tonight's episode of Special Assignment will not be aired owing to the 
fact that due process with regards to consultation has not been 
concluded," said SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago in a statement issued 
just over an hour before the show was due to be aired.

"Because of the problems encountered previously with this particular 
episode, the Acting GCEO Mr Gab Mampone in his capacity as 
Editor-in-Chief will need to make the final sign-off."

Kganyago said the SABC apologised to the public for any inconvenience.

The show includes material by cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known as 
Zapiro, who is being sued by President Jacob Zuma for a cartoon 
portraying him about to rape "Lady Justice".

This cartoon was published when Zuma was still embroiled in court bids 
to have graft charges dropped against him.

The documentary also features material from the Z-News satire which was 
produced by Zapiro and shows Zuma trying to flee from the National 
Prosecuting Authority and axed president Thabo Mbeki in drag, singing "I 
will survive".

The Zapiro documentary was pulled from the Special Assignment show just 
before general elections in April.

The version that was to air on Tuesday on SABC at 8.30pm had apparently 
been updated and included an interview with Zapiro about his decision to 
detach the notorious shower head from Zuma's head in his cartoons. - Sapa