Mangcu vs Zapiro: A Locking of Horns over President Zuma

December 17th, 2009 by Thando

Sunday Independent books editor Maureen Isaacson enjoins the authors of two books recently published by Jacana -The Democracy Moment (Xolela Mangcu) and Don’t Mess with the President’s Head (Zapiro) – to debate by proxy the way the South African media has handled Zuma’s ascension to the presidency. Mangcu is critical of Zapiro and others who’ve concentrated on Zuma’s foibles, while Zapiro strongly defends his right to call it like he sees it:

Xolela Mangcu in The Democratic Moment explains President Jacob Zuma’s accession as “a form of cultural insurgency”. In the clash between the elite and mass politics that erupted over Zuma’s rise to power he perceives a contemporary political expression of the historical divide amaqaba (the red people) and the amakholwa (the educated converts).
Will Zuma be able to straddle the two worlds without becoming “a schizophrenic leader”?
Mangcu, in looking at this “hybrid politician” who cohabits the worlds of tradition and modernity in politics, examines his own slow journey from elite reluctance, to acceptance and support of Zuma. In an interview, he says: “I have forgiven myself and given myself the opportunity to say, listen to this person.”