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“It’s really pleasing for me to see my cartoons being used in our schools and universities as teaching aids,” said Zapiro.
Cartoonist Zapiro was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate in Education by the University of Pretoria (UP). Picture: University of Pretoria/X
South Africa’s most celebrated cartoonist, Jonathan ‘Zapiro’ Shapiro, has described receiving an Honorary Doctorate in Education from the University of Pretoria (UP) as particularly special.
“It’s really pleasing for me to see my cartoons being used in our schools and universities as teaching aids and in exam papers and textbooks,” said Zapiro to the university.
The Honorary Doctorate in Education was conferred on Monday, 19 May as part of UP’s Autumn 2025 Graduation season (2 to 29 May), during which more than 12,000 students will graduate.
#UPGraduation2025: Renowned cartoonist Zapiro has received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from UP during our Autumn 2025 Graduation season. His work, used in schools & unis across SA, inspires critical thinking & discourse. Read more: https://t.co/NOHkEKYQ6g pic.twitter.com/n2v56QzUY7
— University of Pretoria (@UPTuks) May 20, 2025
“It’s therefore particularly special for me to be receiving an honorary doctorate in Education.”
ALSO READ: ‘Viva, freedom of expression’ – Zapiro after age restriction for ‘The Showerhead’ overturned [VIDEO]
The documentary
Zapiro is set to give some local school and university talks before flying to Australia for a screening of The Showerhead, a documentary about his journey as a cartoonist.
In 2024, before The Showerhead‘s release, South Africa’s Film and Publication Board (SAFPB) decided to give it a 16LNPSV rating.
The Appeals Tribunal ruled that the initial 16 LNP (SV) rating was unwarranted and gave it a more sensible 13 L (SV) rating.
“I thought the rating was silly,” Zapiro told The Citizen at the time.
The Showerhead chronicles Zapiro’s journey, from his beginnings as a liberation artist and political detainee during apartheid to his rise as a champion of freedom of expression.
The documentary is directed by Craig Tanner and produced by Anant Singh.
ALSO READ: Zapiro calls age restriction on his film ‘silly’ [Video]
Standing up to bullying
Zapiro said the previous rating from the SAFPB reminded him of the dark times of apartheid.
“The wording of the panel and the reasoning reminded me of the old publication and control board. As someone in my mid-60s, I’ve lived through that era, and I’ve had drawings of mine banned and publications in which my drawings appear, also banned,” Zapiro said at the time.
Facebook and Instagram recently took down some of his cartoons, including one in response to US President Donald Trump withdrawing critical US aid agency funding. He drew Trump in a Nazi uniform, sending out an AIDS vulture to kill millions of Africans.
This led to a conversation about Harvard University refusing to relinquish freedom of speech to Trump.
“Why does it take the richest university in the world – and why has it taken so long for educational institutions and other institutions – to say ‘No!’ to Trump?” he asked.
“The bullying and censorship going on in America that we are all seeing is so damaging and pervasive, and I would like to see some other big institutions following Harvard’s line. If they don’t, the Nazi-style purge of knowledge and the culture of diversity will extend to many more universities, museums and art institutions.”
NOW READ: ‘Viva, freedom of expression’ – Zapiro after age restriction for ‘The Showerhead’ overturned [VIDEO]
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