In this no holds barred interview, Renaldo Gouws sits down with Dave Toons, one of South Africa’s most fearless political cartoonists, to unpack how satire exposes truth when media and institutions refuse to.
From the era of Zapiro to a new generation of artists, the conversation explores why political cartoons have lost much of their bite, how pressure from publishers and public outrage shapes what is allowed on the page, and why so many cartoonists now choose safety over honesty.
Dave Toons breaks down his creative process and explains how a single image can communicate what long articles and speeches often avoid. He describes how cartoons can cut through spin and reveal uncomfortable realities that politicians and even journalists would rather bury. The discussion also confronts cancel culture, self censorship, and the shrinking space for artists who challenge dominant narratives instead of reinforcing them.
This is a raw look at political cartoons, media fear, and the power of satire in a country drowning in corruption, denial, and manufactured narratives. If you care about free expression, honest commentary, and the role of satire in holding power to account, this conversation matters.
Watch until the end, share it, and decide for yourself.
