Zapiro. SA's Leading Cartoonist

Jonathan Shapiro, better known by his pen name Zapiro, is a leading South African cartoonist, known for his sharp wit and biting social commentary. Born in 1958 in Cape Town, South Africa, Zapiro began his career as a cartoonist while studying architecture at the University of Cape Town in the 1980s. He first gained national attention in the 1990s for his political cartoons, which critiqued apartheid-era policies and later, post-apartheid governance.

Over the years, Zapiro's cartoons have tackled a range of social and political issues, from corruption and inequality to climate change and media freedom. His work has been published in various South African newspapers and magazines, including The Mail & Guardian, The Sunday Times, and The Times, among others. He has also published several collections of his cartoons, including "The Best of Zapiro," "Pap en Vleis," and "Democrazy."

One of Zapiro's most iconic characters is the "Madam and Eve" comic strip, which he co-created with writer Stephen Francis in 1992. The comic strip features the lives of two women, Madam and Eve, and their experiences of living in post-apartheid South Africa. The comic strip has become a household name in South Africa and has been adapted into a television series and a stage play.

Zapiro's cartoons have not been without controversy. He has faced legal challenges and censorship for his cartoons that criticize politicians and powerful business figures. In 2008, he faced a defamation lawsuit from South African President Jacob Zuma over a cartoon that depicted Zuma preparing to rape the justice system. The lawsuit was eventually dropped, but it drew attention to the challenges faced by cartoonists in South Africa who are critical of those in power.

Despite the challenges he has faced, Zapiro remains committed to his work as a cartoonist and a social commentator. In a 2016 interview with CNN, he explained his approach to cartooning: "It's a strange balance that you're looking for. You're trying to be funny and serious, and then trying to get your point across. It's a kind of art form that combines a lot of things."

Zapiro's work continues to inspire and challenge readers in South Africa and beyond. His ability to use humor and satire to address serious social and political issues has earned him a place as one of the most important voices in South African journalism.

Here are some notable quotes by Zapiro:

"The cartoonist's role is to find what's absurd or wrong and to accentuate that. But you have to find the right issue to highlight and get a good image that people can identify with."

"You have to be ready to offend, but you also have to be sure that you're doing it for the right reasons and that you have a good point to make."

"A lot of cartoonists in history have used satire as a way of getting through difficult times. It's a way of laughing at the absurdity of power and the things that people in power do."