MEC ire over Zapiro school project continues on Twitter
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi took to Twitter on Tuesday to field criticism and support over his ire about a Zapiro cartoon depicting President Jacob Zuma floating on a pool of money with a showerhead that was included in a school project.
This after he had on Monday night vowed to reveal the name of the school:
“I am also saddened‚ our team invaded the school today (Monday). Will update you‚” ?@Lesufi said in a reply to a concerned follower on Twitter.
“We’ve dealt with that one! We are announcing our action tomorrow‚” he told 3rd Eye @iluxapple‚ who had posted “@Lesufi let’s not be silent about the School or teacher that had a workbook asking pupils on President depicted with shower head”.
On Tuesday morning‚ Kusile Labs & Tech @kusilelabs shared the MEC’s despair‚ tweeting: “@SiphileHlwatika @Lesufi very unfortunate for teachers to stoop so low. how long SA must you take to heal? How long?”‚ to which he replied: “How long indeed when others still want to exclude our children to learn and play together”.
Sir Maximus @Nhlakzito thought that the official was stifling expression: “@Lesufi @madiba–pinky children also have the right to freedom of speech‚ if its his/her opinion that the adult is stupid then so be it...”
“With due respect‚” @Lesufi retorted‚ “you know very well your child can’t say that to you”.
Andrew Perkin @Perks–ZA had taken a similar tack ancd ventured: “@Lesufi The children of 1976 defied the adults‚ and waged war against the regime. Age should never determine the legitimacy of thought.”
@Lesufi said that interpretation of the Soweto uprising was incorrected and tweeted: “No!They defied apartheid‚ the system not adults. I was always worried about who taught u history that was disservice”.
Pinky Madiba @madiba–pinky weighed in by saying the MEC should butt out: “@Lesufi u should stop defending showerhead Zuma.there’s nothing wrong with wat those kids wrote abt .they’re learning abt Truth an integrity”.
D.M.H @Hadebelm seemed to suggest political double standards‚ when he asked: “I would like to know if the teacher that posted a pic.of @Julius–S–Malema next to that of a monkey has been punished.cc @Lesufi”. @Lesufi said: “Yes‚ fired! But it was in Free State not Gauteng”.
The paper‚ shared on Twitter by
https://twitter.com/SiphileHlwatika/status/734671683089510400‚ asks the pupils to identify the person depicted in the cartoon‚ which relates to the spending at Nkandla.“Just by looking at this cartoon‚ would you vote for this individual to be president‚” they are then asked.
A learner who got a score of “good” with two ticks‚ answered in the negative‚ because “he is swimming in money and that shows he’s selfish when it comes to money”.
Meanwhile‚ the MEC also got into a rough debate on Twitter about the future of Afrikaans language schools.
He told one person‚ “Your arguments are always pathetic‚ those who brainwashed you did a serious disservice to you and your children”. Another also got the sharp end of his tongue when he said‚ “You know nothing about punishment‚ actually you are taking advantage of our kindness. Our kindness is not endless”. — Tiso Black Star Group Digital.