Cartoon

This cartoon by Johnathan Shapiro also known as “Zapiro” demonstrates the political climate in 1995 in South Africa. The year 1995 ,was characterized by high optimism, intense efforts toward national reconciliation and the logistical challenges of transitioning to a Post-apartheid Democracy. The Judge in the foreground represents Justice Arthur Chaskalson, who was the first president of the Constitutional Court of South Africa in 1994 (appointed by Nelson Mandela) and former Chief justice (2001-2005).

This cartoon demonstrates Chaskalson exclaiming “Timber!!!”(a term used by arborists to alert that a tree is falling for safety and clearance) to alert people of the fall of the hanging system (man-made) that metaphorically comments on the abolishment of The Death Penalty and the Reverse Onus Provisions. On the contrary, Zapiro backgrounds a larger tree labelled “Pro-Hanging Public Opinion”, elucidating the impression that there are bigger and deeply rooted concerns that need to be tended to.