was being raped by the campaign the ANC and its allies were waging against the courts, which were trying Zuma on various corruption and racketeering charges. Published in the Sunday Times in September 2008, the cartoon caused a furore as it catalysed a debate on how far cartooning can go before it is defamatory. Zapiro faced a firestorm, even from supporters like political analysts Sipho Seepe and Xolela Mangcu who felt he had drawn too far. The ANC threatened to sue and the already fiery atmosphere blazed. The following Friday, Zapiro drew again in the Mail & Guardian. He drew a twin image and this time a word bubble from Zuma said: “With respect …”. The implication was clear again: all week, the ANC had protested that it respected the judiciary and the outcome of judgements. On the same day that the second cartoon was published, High Court judge Chris Nicholson threw out the charges against Zuma and claimed that he had been subject to a political conspiracy. The ANC was ecstatic and outside court, deputy president Baleka Mbete attacked Zapiro and accused him of racism. The incident has hardened the cartoonist laureate whose work is often dark with anger now; it is a far cry from the role he has played as court jester to a ruling party he has always supported. Cartoonists are meant to push the envelope and enjoy, arguably, a higher freedom of expression than other journalists, said media freedom advocates. It is a space worth watching especially as all signs point to Jacob Zuma becoming president in 2009. And now for the evening bulletin Media Tenor, the media analysis company, found that the SABC suffered a massive dent to its reputation if the tally of negative versus positive publication was accepted. Throughout 2008, the SABC was engaged in an internecine battle with its chief executive, officer Dali Mpofu, who was suspended and later fired by the board’s chairperson, Kanyisiwe Mkhonza. Mpofu, fought the board in the courts and the year followed a pattern of reinstatement and suspension. Mpofu said that he was the victim of political interference exercised through the board by the former president, Thabo Mbeki. He found an ally in this assertion in the ANC’s communications portfolio committee at parliament which used the interregnum after Mbeki’s firing to attempt to change the board to which the former president had appointed several favoured associates and allies. The Broadcasting Amendment Bill sought to give hiring and firing powers to parliament but civil society opposed the bill because it felt it to be opportunist. At the time of writing, it had not been passed. A buffeting year is likely at the SABC as the CEO, Gab Mampone, is only serving in an acting position. The chief operations officer (COO) is also acting while the board is being sued by two disgruntled applicants for this important role. A ‘Save our SABC’ coalition has been formed to lobby for the transformation of the broadcaster through changes to legislation and public advocacy. It is chaired by Kate Skinner and is a broad front of organisations keen to set the keeling ship SABC straight. Questions have been raised about the role of ICASA in ensuring that the SABC keeps to its licence condition. Both the regulator and the Communications Minister, Ivy Matsepe Cassaburi, have been silent throughout a year of crisis at the SABC. The Sunday Independent reported that the broadcaster is operating on a deficit/overdraft facility of R500 million (about US$55 million), while it is well known in industry circles that advertising revenue on television is slowing down. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -81- Media Institute of Southern Africa