The cartoon, depicting Zuma preparing to rape Lady Justice, was published on September 7 2008. The president, who was acquitted of a rape charge in 2006, was shown loosening his trousers while African National Congress Youth League leader 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 look on, saying: "Go for it, boss."
The president said the cartoon was degrading and left him feeling humiliated. He was demanding R4-million from Avusa, Makhanya and Shapiro and a further R1-million for damaging his reputation. The presidency did not want to comment to the Times and was not immediately available when the South African Press Association sought comment on Tuesday morning. Sunday Times attorney Eric van der Berg said the lawsuit was unexpected. "We are surprised to receive this almost two years down the track. That is all we have to say at this stage."
Sunday Times editor Ray Hartley said it was "sad" that a political figure "can sue over a cartoon". Shapiro told the Times that he "fully" stood behind his cartoon and the views expressed in it. "I will not allow the president to intimidate me," he said.
In June, the South African Human Rights Commission found that the cartoon did not constitute hate speech, unfair discrimination or a violation of any human right enshrined in the Constitution. The commission dismissed a complaint by the Young Communist League and its national secretary, Buti Manamela, that Shapiro defamed Zuma or violated his right to dignity in the cartoon. The commission found that the cartoon expressed a level of "free, open, robust and even unrestrained criticism of politicians by a journalist" and had stimulated "valuable political debate". "Although the SAHRC finds the cartoon and the words used in relation thereto probably offensive and distasteful, same falls short of and does not constitute hate speech, unfair discrimination under Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act or a violation of any fundamental human right contained in the Constitution," the commission's finding read.
Source: Mail & Guardian
PS: This action by President Jacob Zuma has been said to have been instituted to draw attention away from another matter. This other matter is possibly his refusal to disclose findings on whether South African constitutional judges found the Zimbabwe election to be fair and free - which may or may not demonstrate a measure of complicity by the South African President (past and present) with Robert Mugabe.
Why has it taken Jacob Zuma more that two years to bring such a claim? Here is a copy of an article (published on 9 September 2008) about the cartoon "Rape of Lady Justice"
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