Images of a nation in crisis

Abstract

Political cartoonists have, in recent years, faced victimisation for daring to speak truth to power.In December 2010, South African cartoonist, Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) was sued for portrayingformer President Zuma as a rapist. In February 2018, his contract of over ten years with TheSunday Times was abruptly terminated. These developments show that cartoons can be effectivetools of undermining and resisting power. This article critically analyses Zapiro’s Rape of LadyJustice cartoons in the context of South African politics under Zuma’s presidency. The ANC-ledgovernment under Jacob Zuma was perceived as corrupt and gravitating away from the ideals ofa democratic state. Underpinned by Bal et al.’s (2009) model of caricature, this article seeks toexamine, firstly, how the cartoon, as a medium of expression, pokes fun at its object of caricature,and secondly, how the broader socio-political context of Zuma’s presidency inspired Zapiro’sLady Justice cartoons.