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 character in the foreground in the second frame (removing the disguise) 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).

In the cartoon, the public voices their views on “Capital Punishment” also described as “the death penalty” or “judicial homicide”. The views of the public are demonstrated as polarized as opposed to those of the Judges. Zapiro depicts all of the judges of the Constitutional Court wearing groucho glasses(often used as a disguise) that mimic the facial features of judge Arthur Chaskalson elucidating the impression that they uphold the same sentiments as their seemingly unanimous decision (to abolish capital punishment) contradicts that of the public(with reason). However, in this instance Chaskalson is shown in the cartoon to remove the disguise and Zapiro intentionally depicts this to critique Chaskalson leadership as seen by the Court's decision making outcome.