THREE things with serious political implications happened in the country yesterday.

First, the South Gauteng High Court decided that the ANC's legal challenge of The Spear - Brett Murray's controversial portrayal of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed - should be heard by a full bench.

Zuma's children undertook to join the court action to protect their father's dignity.

Second, the artwork was defaced in a violent protest by those who found it offensive. Two people have been arrested.

Third, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe lambasted the artwork saying it showed the extent to which white people were unappreciative of the reconciliatory gestures of blacks.

In the afternoon, Zuma appeared in Parliament to answer questions. By then all MPs had heard about the goings-on regarding the artwork. And as they looked at the president answering the questions they must have been thinking about the controversy that surrounds him and his image.

But they are not alone. This issue is being discussed in taverns, taxi ranks, churches, on the streets, in shacks, air-conditioned offices and other places.

Why has our president become a focal point for something unrelated to his work?

So much time is being spent on debating his integrity - or lack thereof. The ruling party spends time trying to present him as impeccable. But some artists and cartoonist have a different view.

The whole debate goes to show that South Africans are concerned about how their president appears. Those who feel the artwork is justified are happy that Murray has exposed the naked emperor. Those who are opposed to it feel that his dignity has been unjustifiably impugned.

But missing in these opposing points of view is a middle line: How can we elect a president who will be invincible against even the most daring and racist artists?

This question is far more urgent because many more artists - regardless of their motives - will emerge to caricature the president in ways even more demeaning than this.

A short cut is to ban offensive artistic displays in galleries and newspapers. But it won't disappear from social network sites and other places where not even Richard Mdluli could reach.

While the ANC is entitled and correct to challenge the matter in court- which might help arrest the fast declining stature of the Presidency- a more lasting solution would be to look at electing into public office those who would not easily be subjected to this kind of treatment.

Zuma is far too vulnerable. And that's the Gordian knot.