SABC cans Zapiro show again

2009-05-26 19:54

Johannesburg - 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 spokesman 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.

'Rape of justice' cartoon

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

The 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 Special Assignment just before general elections in April.

The version that was to air on Tuesday on SABC at 20:30 had apparently been updated and included an interview with Zapiro about his decision to detach the notorious showerhead from Zuma's head in his cartoons.
 

- SAPA