Zuma reduces claim against Zapiro

280209 Cartoonist Jonathan ‘Zapiro’ Shapiro poses with Jacob Zuma puppets used in the production of Z News, a satirical show commissioned by the SABC from him for R1 million. But the show has now been cancelled. A 30-minute pilot video of Z News, along the lines of the controversial British show Spitting Image and featuring figures such as Jacob Zuma, Helen ‘Godzille’ Zille and Thabo Mbeki, was made by the SABC last year, but it has not been aired. Zapiro is now gaining massive support on Facebook with people calling for the show to air Picture: Supplied

280209 Cartoonist Jonathan ‘Zapiro’ Shapiro poses with Jacob Zuma puppets used in the production of Z News, a satirical show commissioned by the SABC from him for R1 million. But the show has now been cancelled. A 30-minute pilot video of Z News, along the lines of the controversial British show Spitting Image and featuring figures such as Jacob Zuma, Helen ‘Godzille’ Zille and Thabo Mbeki, was made by the SABC last year, but it has not been aired. Zapiro is now gaining massive support on Facebook with people calling for the show to air Picture: Supplied

Published Oct 24, 2012

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Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has reduced his claim against cartoonist Zapiro from R4 million to R100 000, media lawyer Dario Milo said on  Wednesday.

He has also dropped a claim that Zapiro's Lady Justice rape cartoon harmed his dignity, said Milo, who represents the Sunday Times newspaper.

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

Milo said there was a slight difference between dignity and reputation.

"Dignity is basically an insult where you claim for hurt feelings in circumstances where the reasonable person would also have been hurt.

"Reputation is where you claim for harm caused because other people think less of you as a result of the cartoon."

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, cartoonist Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro, and former Sunday Times' editor-in-chief Mondli Makhanya in summons issued in the High Court in Johannesburg.

He initially wanted R4 million from Avusa, Makhanya, and Shapiro for harming his dignity and damaging his reputation.

Zuma still wanted an unconditional apology.

In the cartoon, Zuma, who was acquitted of a rape charge in 2006, is shown undoing his trousers while expelled African National  Congress Youth League president Julius Malema, Congress of SA Trade  Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, SA 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

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