LISTEN: Zapiro reveals the SA politician most annoyed by his work
South African icon, satirical genius and legendary cartoonist Zapiro joins The Drive with Rob and Roz to talk about his new book
Jonathan Shapiro is best known to South Africans and the world as Zapiro.
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Born in 1958, he went through school in Cape Town, architecture at UCT, conscription, activism, detention and a Fulbright Scholarship in New York before establishing himself as South Africa’s best-known cartoonist.
He is currently the editorial cartoonist for Daily Maverick and has previously been published in the Mail & Guardian, Sowetan, Sunday Times, Independent Newspapers and The Times.
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As an activist in the 1980s, he drew for the UDF and South magazine (1987–88).
Zapiro has published 30 best-selling annuals and four special collections.
He has won numerous international and South African awards and holds three honorary doctorates; the most recent being an Honorary Doctorate in Education awarded by the University of Pretoria in 2025.
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Once again, South Africa’s best-loved and most fearless cartoonist, Zapiro, is back with his 30th annual collection, ‘What Else Could Go Wrong?’
This collection provides a searing, satirical look at another year of political absurdity, national upheaval and international lunacy captured in a brilliant series of cartoons.
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From the never-ending ructions of our Government of National Unity, to Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil, and SAPS turning on themselves rather than fighting crime.
It’s been another wild year captured by the sharp pen of the award-winning Zapiro.
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Released just in time for the festive season, ‘What Else Could Go Wrong?’ promises to be another Christmas bestseller, offering readers a biting, often hilarious reflection on the state of our world through the eyes of South Africa’s most iconic cartoonist.
Many times the world feels crazier than me, but at least there’s no shortage of things to get my teeth into. With Cyril’s decisive indecision, endless dialogue about The Dialogue, Mashatile’s murky money, the NPA standing for Never Prosecute Anyone, Floyd Shivambu having a fling with MK before quickly being flung out … and that’s not even the half of it.
Rob Forbes and Rozanne McKenzie had the honour of sitting down with the icon himself to find out more about his work, his inspiration, and who he finds the hardest to draw.
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