What else could go wrong?

South Africa’s best-loved and most fearless cartoonist, Zapiro, is back with his 30th annual collection, What Else Could Go Wrong? – a searing, satirical look at another year of political absurdity, national upheaval and international lunacy captured in a brilliant series of cartoons.

From the never-ending ructions of our Government of National Unity, to Donald Trump’s tariff turmoil, and SAPS turning on themselves rather than fighting crime, it’s been another wild year captured by the sharp pen of the award-winning Zapiro.

As Zapiro puts it: ‘Many times the world feels crazier than me but at least there’s no shortage of things to get my teeth into. With Cyril’s decisive indecision, endless dialogue about The Dialogue, Mashatile’s murky money, the NPA standing for Never Prosecute Anyone, Floyd Shivambu having a fling with MK before quickly being flung out ... and that’s not even the half of it’.

Released just in time for the festive season, What Else Could Go Wrong? promises to be another Christmas bestseller, offering readers a biting, often hilarious reflection on the state of our world — through the eyes of South Africa’s most iconic cartoonist.

About the author

Zapiro is Jonathan Shapiro. Born in 1958, he went through school in Cape Town, architecture at UCT, conscription, activism, detention and a Fulbright Scholarship in New York before establishing himself as South Africa’s best-known cartoonist. He is the editorial cartoonist for Daily Maverick. Previously he was published in the Mail & Guardian, Sowetan, Sunday Times, Independent Newspapers and The Times. As an activist in the 1980s, he drew for the UDF and South magazine (1987–88).

Zapiro has published 30 best-selling annuals and four special collections. He has won numerous international and South African awards and holds three honorary doctorates; the most recent being an Honorary Doctorate in Education awarded by the University of Pretoria in 2025. DM

Event Schedule

Saturday, 22 November — Joburg
Exclusive Books Sandton City
12:30 – 15:00

Sunday, 23 November — Joburg
The Zone @ Rosebank (Food Court Bridge)
10:00 – 12:00

Saturday, 29 November — Cape Town
Wordsworth Gardens
10:30 – 12:00

Saturday, 29 November — Cape Town
Exclusive Books Cavendish
13:00 – 14:30

Sunday, 30 November — Durban
Gateway Shopping Centre (Food Court)
12:00 – 14:00

Saturday, 06 December — Cape Town
Exclusive Books Constantia
11:00 – 12:30

Saturday, 06 December — Cape Town
Wordsworth Somerset
14:30 – 16:00

Sunday, 07 December — Cape Town
Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront
11:00 – 12:30