Comments on: Zapiro is guilty of being a cartoonist in South Africa

By: Isaac Qubu

Isaac Qubu — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:00:47 +0000

This Zapiro must pay for insulting Ukhongolose “Msholozi”.

He is Brainless.

By: Po

Po — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:34:46 +0000

mhambi I totally agree with what you say about context. I think that the cartoon’s content is being misinterpreted in this case, but perhaps in the context of post Apartheid South Africa this is inevitable?

By: z

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:40:59 +0000

BTW I responded on constitutionally speaking:
http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/?p=668#comment-5770

By: Kameraad Mhambi

Kameraad Mhambi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:09:13 +0000

Well perhaps Zapiro read my column!

This new cartoon, and your other links on HIV / Aids, I think, proves my point.

Mbeki is directly responsible for the deaths of thousands and none of those cartoons are as direct or hard hitting as the ones in my post above. Zapiro has been pussy footing around Mbeki. But alas he is not alone.

By: z

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:36:41 +0000

You should see today’s Zapiro:
http://www.mg.co.za/zapiro/fullcartoon/2103

“Zapiro never drew a hard hitting cartoon about this.”

“That is perhaps Zapiro’s crime. He has not been even handed in his attacks. As with many others he let the Mbeki administration’s gross excesses get a free ride. Zuma on the other hand has been fair game.”

Hard hitting is subjectively defined, but Zapiro did not keep quiet:
http://www.mg.co.za/zapiro/fullcartoon/1976
http://www.mg.co.za/zapiro/tag/hivaids

By: Po

Po — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:51:02 +0000

Interesting thoughts.

By: Kameraad Mhambi

Kameraad Mhambi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:10:58 +0000

Hi Po, you say: “The content of the criticism it what is important.”

In general I think your right. But I can imagine situations where the context of saying something can make an otherwise innocuous statement ‘racist’.

In this case I suspect the insult felt by Seepe and Mangcu is less about white stereo types of blacks, but black (and especially black middleclass) perceptions of blacks.

Mark Gevisser makes the point in his biography of Thabo Mbeki that many of the stranger positions taken by Mbeki is because he is in fact ‘prejudiced’ towards blacks.

He thinks he sees the world as whites see it. Hence he regularly accuses whites of racism.

By: Po

Po — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:56:01 +0000

I find it very difficult to accept the criticism of this cartoon as racist. The only reason this cartoon can be criticised as racist is because a white man drew it. The content in itself is in no way racist. Nowhere does it claim that only black men rape. I have heard black people criticise Zuma’s fiasco in court too. A person cannot always be criticised as racist merely because the person they are criticising is of another colour. The content of the criticism it what is important.