Angry voters

Politicians warring for votes in South African elections had an unanticipated problem. Posters were defaced by people wielding thick black markers, stencils, duct tape and spray-paint. African National Congress president Jacob Zuma suffered the worst, at least in Johannesburg. His detractors added horns to his visage, a forked tongue, a shower rose, a banana. They labelled him “criminal”, and his party’s message “Let’s work together to do more,” gained the word “crime” along some streets and “corruption” along some. Aubrey Matshiqi of Johannesburg-based Centre for Policy Studies isn’t suprised. “Zuma heads South Africa’s largest political party. It’s natural he should get the most flak,” he said. Matshiqi believes defacing is a form of communication. It is a way of giving voice to political views.