South African President Zuma sues newspaper over defamatory cartoon

2010-12-15 03:19:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) -- South Africa President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against a local media group for the publication of a defamatory cartoon in 2008.

Zuma filed a $730,000 lawsuit against Avusa, publisher of the Sunday Times, Mondli Makhanya, its former editor, and Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, who drew the cartoon.

The cartoon was published in the South African Sunday Times in September 2008. It depicted Zuma preparing to rape a woman that represented the justice system, who was being held down by political allies.

The Lady Justice was held down by ANC Youth League President Julius Malema and SA Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande. Cosatu leader Zwelinzima Vavi and ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe also featured in the cartoon, supporting Zuma.

Zuma said the cartoon was degrading and left him feeling humiliated. He demanded $730,000 to be paid to compensate for the humiliation and reputational damage done by the drawing.

The South African president said that the cartoon implied that he relied on political allies to abuse the justice system in as vile, degrading and violent a way, as the raping of a woman.

"He may lose a fair bit of credibility," Steven Friedman, director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy said. "If he loses, it will be an embarrassment; if he wins, it will be seen as an attack on the media."

Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006. Earlier this year, corruption charges against him, relating to an arms purchase in 1999, were dropped. The South African president is still suffering from the fallout of the unsuccessful charges against him.

The ANC has been accused restricting press freedom this year after publishing the draft protection of information bill, which will allow any head of a public body to classify information, and establishes jail sentences of up to 25 years.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-12-15

So that was what Thaksin was doing in South Africa. Offering comfort and guidance.

Fight oppression, become free, so they can get into power and make sure the people isn't free.