It would appear as if the dust has settled around the infamous painting, “The Spear“, but not without more controversy.

The ANC has said it will withdraw legal action against the Goodman Gallery, artist Brett Murray and newspaper City Press, which had until recently hosted an image of the painting on its website. The decision to remove it was made by editor Ferial Haffajee, who explained in her editorial column that the saga around the painting had left the realms of a debate. She also cited death threats and interference against her staff doing their job as key reasons.

The decision divided South Africans even more – many came out in droves to support the newspaper this Sunday, defying an ANC call to boycott it.

Haffajee’s choice is seen by many as giving in to bullying by the ruling party, though others applauded it as a wise move.

The gallery, meanwhile, has also decided to remove an image of the painting from its website, stating that the image is already in the public domain and keeping it on the site serves no purpose.

Sadly the shenanigans don’t quite end there. Even though admitting it lies outside of its jurisdiction, the Film & Publication Board has decreed that “The Spear”, in particular online depictions of it, should carry an age restriction.

Some have accused the FPB, which is responsible for assigning restrictions to movies, games and such, of pandering to politics, an accusation affirmed somewhat by the fact that it won’t reveal who made the ruling. Others have also questioned if this means all art is now subject to age restriction.

Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande isn’t even happy with limiting the age of the audience – he wants the painting destroyed, saying as much in front of a large crowd that marched to the gallery on Tuesday. But the Goodman Gallery made clear this won’t happen: the painting was bought by a German collector even before the controversy started and this person has no plans to restore the damage done when two men defaced “The Spear” last week. The painting’s owner would, of course, be foolish to do so: “The Spear’s” value has rocketed since.

By James Francis.