Zapiro launches annual edition of cartoons
Eager fans of the cartoonist Jonathan Zapiro gathered outside Exclusive Books at Hyde Park Corner in anticipation of his 18th annual book launch.
Witty and controversial Zapiro expressed his excitement when he saw the amount of admirers from all over Johannesburg, including suspended Cosatu general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
“I’ve been a daily cartoonist for twenty decades and yet still wake up wanting to do what I do because of the support that I receive not only from the public but from the team of editors and journalists. I still wake up riveted by everything around me and I will stop doing what I do if I ever start thinking that any of my cartoons no longer make any difference and have no worth,” he said.
Those who were not lined up at the book shop, waiting to get their Zapiro books autographed, sat patiently outside waiting to hear the man speak about what inspired his choice of cartoons during 2013.
Titled My Big Fat Gupta Wedding, Zapiro explained how the ‘Gupta Gate’ saga set the tone for what he believed was a year tainted by an abuse of power by President Jacob Zuma and other government officials.
“People want to see scrutiny but the most important thing is that people are able to laugh at themselves,” said Zapiro.
