Hon Speaker, on Sunday, 27 October the Sunday Times published a cartoon by Zapiro which intended to ridicule the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The use of the image of the Lord Ganesha to accomplish this is totally unacceptable.
What sets the new South Africa apart from the old is the respect we accord one another. As South Africans, we not only tolerate and accept diversity, but we accord the deepest respect to other people's religious convictions. We affirm that no part of society in South Africa should be treated with indignity and disrespect. Any action that offends one section of society should offend all sections. Freedom of expression is not an unfettered right within the Bill of Rights. Accordingly, the ANC calls upon the Sunday Times and Jonathan Shapiro to apologise to the Hindu community in particular, and to all decent, caring and peace-loving South Africans. Thank you. [Applause.]