S.African cartoonist Zapiro warns of shrinking media freedom

Johannesburg (AFP) - Renowned South African cartoonist Zapiro warned of shrinking media freedom Wednesday following the shooting dead of 12 people at France's Charlie Hebdo weekly.

Zapiro, whose drawings are published by South Africa's Mail & Guardian weekly, told the paper he hoped the attack in Paris "doesn't have a further chilling effect on satirists, commentators and journalists; any free thinkers in society."

"But I'm afraid that scenario is probably inevitable."

Like Charlie Hebdo, Zapiro, whose real name is Jonathan Shapiro, has drawn condemnation for daring to draw humourous cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

"Other prophets have followers with a sense of humour," he remarked.

Zapiro, who has been twice sued by President Jacob Zuma, also called out South African politicians for their repeated attacks on the media.

"I think that political leaders, corporate leaders and corporations in general should really start standing up more than they do against the narrowing of freedom of expression," he said.