“The terms ‘self-respecting’ and ‘Zuma’ don’t go in the same sentence,” said Jonathan Shapiro while explaining his journey as a cartoonist in South Africa over the last 3 decades.
Shapiro, who is now 60, recently spoke at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) annual Woordfees about his political cartooning, touching mainly on his portrayal of former President Jacob Zuma.
His cartoons have had influence in the pages of South African newspapers, the Sowetan, Cape Argus, Mail & Guardian, the Star, the Mercury, the Pretoria News. He is currently editorial cartoonist for the Sunday Times (since 1998) and Daily Maverick (since 2017).
Shapiro, better known by his cartooning alias of Zapiro, started his post-university life as an activist, but later found himself as a political cartoonist with a “draw what I see” attitude, leading to him experiencing multiple confrontations from those of whom he drew.
His political relationship with Zuma started out as being impersonal, but years of suing and cartooning respectively have led to Shapiro deliberately trying to not meet Zuma.
Zuma was identified as corrupt as early as 2002 by the cartoonist.
Jonathan Shapiro holding a figurine of Jacob Zuma with the iconic shower head atop his head. PHOTO: Facebook.
The journey between the two then blossomed as Zuma was acquitted of his rape charge while gaining the infamous showerhead in Shapiro’s depictions of him.
The shower became a mini symbol of protest. Everyone knew, and still knows, what it means.
Shapiro has shown, among others, two things in his career: resilience and confidence. Through this, he has managed to capture the political cartoon market and bring politics into a hugely relatable and conversational realm.
“Luckily as a cartoonist I have been able to stand my ground,” he explained amidst touching on how much dispute has come about due to his work.
Teetering on both sides of the spectrum of appraisal, Shapiro has seen everything from being sued for R15 million, the highest suing against any cartoonist ever which was substantially dropped by Zuma, to being placed in Buzzfeed’s ‘15 Cartoons Which Changed the World’ list for his ‘7 September 2008 Rape of Lady Justice’ cartoon.
His direct confrontation with Zuma ended after the former President stepped down, after which Shapiro created his 15 February 2018 ‘End of an Error’ cartoon; however, the showerhead has still played a significant role in portraying the rot of corruption that is still evident in South Africa today.
Jonathan Shapiro interacting with Nelson Mandela in 2004, at the start of Shapiro’s journey with Jacob Zuma. PHOTO: Facebook.
Shapiro has now developed the character of Rama Panther, a semi-hero depicting Cyril Ramaphosa who has uncertain powers.
Shapiro expressed his hope for South Africa, saying that he sent Ramaphosa a signed copy of one of his books with a letter inside which urged the new President to find the old Ramaphosa within himself, which he hopes will see his expression of “I want to see him [Ramaphosa] grow a pair” to come true.