A new initiative that brings together South Africa's cartoon and illustration industry is set to make its first big splash next week.

The Centre for Comic, Illustrative and Book Arts (CCIBA) is the first of its kind in the country. It is the only centre that promotes visual arts, including cartooning and illustrations, and gets the public involved.

Some of South Africa's finest cartoonists - including Zapiro, Jeremy Nell, Stacey Stent and Brandan Reynolds - have thrown their weight behind the initiative.

Zapiro (whose real name is Jonathan Shapiro) of the Mail & Guardian, Nell of The Times, Stent of Noseweek, and Reynolds of Business Day and Weekend Argus are all expected to be part of the CCIBA's first debate on Thursday.

It is part of a series of debates called "The Jester's Space", one of which will be held every quarter. The theme of the upcoming debate is "Defending the Jester's Space: Pushing the Limits of Political Cartooning".

The discussion will touch on issues such as censorship, freedom of expression and political cartooning - but the major focus will be on some of Shapiro's recent cartoons, such as the Lady Justice cartoon, which not only sparked enormous controversy but is also the subject of one of President Zuma's lawsuits against the cartoonist.

Shapiro said that since 1994 cartoonists had had an open space to work, but he had noticed a number of "warning signs" over the past couple of years.

"There has been a lack of tolerance on the part of the government and the ANC when it comes to criticism, which stems from Mbeki's time." He said that while the Lady Justice cartoon was strong, he had created other strong cartoons that had not brought about the same kind of reaction. He believed people were becoming more focused on "wanting to show respect at all costs for the leadership".

"This is a subjective opinion, but I believe people should be able to be irreverent at times about other people and political and religious institutions by being put in this imaginary world of cartooning."

Andy Mason, who established the CCIBA with director Keith Dietrich, said the debate was bound to stimulate interesting discussion because "cartoonists don't all see eye to eye".

He said the aim of the centre, among other purposes, was to study and explore a highly under-researched industry of visual arts and to help the public understand the industry.

"We also need more diversity in the industry," said Mason. "There has been a lot of frustration in the ANC recently because there aren't any cartoonists pushing their line. Now there are some cartoonists pushing the Zuma stance and that's a good thing - it broadens the diversity of our industry, and that's something we aim to promote."

Thursday's debate will take place at Stellenbosch University's Department of Visual Arts at 6.30pm for 7pm. The cost is R50 or R30 for students and members.