Among the range of responses available to President Jacob Zuma and his circle were grace, dignity, humour and tolerance. Yet they chose to mine the negative end of the spectrum, harping on race and bruised ego.

Leaders set the tone. Instead of using this as an opportunity to teach followers a necessary  lesson in tolerance Zuma  played the victim, a role he has mastered to his benefit over the years. He and  Blade Nzimande, Jackson Mthembu, Gwede Mantashe  et al tapped into base stereotypes to inflame passions.

They could so easily have swung   the mood the other way.

It is notable that despite exhortations and a considerable investment in printing posters, the ANC drew fewer than 300 people to its Tuesday protest. But we don’t  doubt the antipathy towards the artwork is widespread.

 Zuma’s re-election chances have been boosted. Yet the nation is more divided, thanks to narrowly focused leadership.