/ 24 October 2012

Zuma reduces claim against Zapiro for Lady Justice cartoon

Jonathan Shapiro.
Jonathan Shapiro.

Zuma has dropped his R1-million claim that the cartoon harmed his dignity, and reduced the claim of defamation from R4-million to R100 000, with an apology, media lawyer Dario Milo told the Mail & Guardian on Wednesday. 

However, Zuma was still claiming that the cartoon harmed his reputation.

The claim related to the cartoon, depicting Zuma preparing to rape "Lady Justice", which was published in the newspaper on September 7 2008.

Zuma started proceedings in December 2010 against Avusa, the cartoonist Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro and former Sunday Times editor-in-chief Mondli Makhanya in a summons issued in the high court in Johannesburg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the cartoon, Zuma, who was acquitted of a rape charge in 2006, was shown loosening his trousers while since expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe hold Lady Justice down, saying: "Go for it, boss."

The matter is scheduled to be heard in the high court in Johannesburg on Monday. – Sapa