Outrage over controversial painting of President Zuma in sexual act with late Nelson Mandela

A recent painting portraying late and former South African president Nelson Mandela in a sexual act with the current South African president, Jacob Zuma by controversial artist, Ayanda Mabulu, has caused a stir on social media.

The painting which emerged on Thursday is "Economy of Rape".

Artist Ayanda Mabulu has defended his painting saying he's merely expressing his views on the current situation in the country. 

According to him, he interpreted the painting as raping the former president Nelson Mandela's legacy. 

The African National Congress (ANC) criticized the painting in a statement saying;

"Whilst we respect Mabulu's freedom of expression, we find his work grotesque, inflammatory and of bad taste."

  South Africans also criticized the painting on social media

Mabulu is no stranger to controversy. He courted trouble last year when he painted Zuma performing a sexual act with controversial businessman Atul Gupta in a cockpit of an aeroplane.

Another of his paintings, titled "Spear Down My Throat (The Pornography of Power)" in 2015 depicted Zuma with his manhood in the throat of a woman (representing South Africa) while she was being penetrated by a hyena in a Victorian suit.

Mabulu's paintings have sparked outrage in certain quarters and heated debate around freedom of expression and respect for the rights of individuals in recent years.