[imagesource: Andrew Propp for Fogarty/NIH]

With a growing sense of mistrust around our government’s decision-making processes regarding the national lockdown, any dissent from within the medical community was always going to grab attention.

That’s only further amplified when the dissent comes from a high-profile member of the ministerial advisory committee (MAC), which advises the government on its response to the pandemic, and Professor Glenda Gray’s reputation has been widely discussed over the past fortnight.

The wheels were set in motion following an interview she did with News24, followed soon after by other MAC members speaking out.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize soon responded, branding Gray’s words “potentially destructive” and accused her of “unbecoming conduct”.

We’re getting to Zapiro’s cartoon, but the background is necessary first. Patience.

As the media storm grew, Dr Anban Pillay, the acting director-general of the health department, called for an investigation into Gray’s conduct, whilst the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) sided with Gray, saying she did nothing wrong when discussing her personal views in the media.

It’s been an ugly back and forth, and Zapiro has now weighed in with ‘Fifty Shades of Gray’, his latest cartoon on the Daily Maverick:

The whole debacle has reflected poorly on a number of people, but it is perhaps our National Coronavirus Command Council that has the biggest bruising.

Zapiro’s cartoon dated May 23, again from the Daily Maverick, questions who is really pulling the strings:

That’s sure to go down well with tobacco sales ban opposers, who currently view Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as public enemy number one.

Keep poking the bear, Zapiro.

[source:dailymaverick]