• Shapiro explains rape cartoon:

CARTOONIST Jonathan Shapiro will not use the rape metaphor again anytime soon.

He was responding to criticism on social media of his latest cartoon‚ where President Jacob Zuma can be seen handing a rape victim draped in the South African flag to one of the Gupta brothers.

“I didn’t think I would return to this metaphor‚” Shapiro‚ known as Zapiro, said.

The drawing is a flashback to his famous 2008 cartoon depicting Zuma about to rape Lady Justice‚ being held down by former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema‚ party heavyweight Gwede Mantashe‚ Zwelinzima Vavi and Blade Nzimande.

The characters‚ and the victim‚ are different in his new offering.

Zuma can be seen adjusting the zip on his trousers‚ and handing his victim to one of the Gupta brothers who is about to “rape” South Africa.

The woman is being held down by the editor-in-chief of Gupta-aligned television news channel ANN7 and the New Age newspaper‚ Moegsien Williams, State Security Minister David Mahlobo, representing “state organs”, and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, representing “cronies”.

Shapiro said that he‚ like many artists‚ had become desperate to find ways to make a strong statement about the situation in the country.

“Zuma did, in fact, do exactly what that [2008] cartoon was saying he was doing, which was to abuse‚ essentially rape‚ the system of justice to get corruption charges dropped so he could become president.

“I am saying he’s behaved that way all through his presidency.”

Shapiro said the difference between the two cartoons was that now South Africa was at the centre. Zuma is portrayed as the sidekick and the Guptas are the protagonists.

“I know it’s shocking. I am using it [rape] because it is shocking.”