Zuma sues Zapiro

[Frankie]

Looks like Zapiro has touched a nerve

Zuma sues Zapiro

ANC president [AIDS shower boy] Jacob Zuma is suing Jonathan Shapiro, the Sunday Times and its holding company for R7-million for a controversial cartoon published earlier this year, The Times reported on Thursday.

In the cartoon, Shapiro, who uses the pen name Zapiro, portrayed Zuma unbuckling his belt as he prepares to rape the figurative Lady Justice.

She is held down by Zuma allies Julius Malema, Gwede Mantashe, Blade Nzimande and Zwelinzima Vavi.

Mantashe eggs Zuma on: "Go for it, boss!"

While Zuma's allies claimed the cartoon was intended to project the ANC president as a rapist - even though Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 - Shapiro said the central meaning of the cartoon was "incredibly clear".

He continues to rape the justice system.

 

[anathema]

Who thinks he will win?

 

[BBSA]

Who thinks he will win?

He tried the same in 2006, I think the case is still going... but it will be interesting.

Freedom of speech?

 

[sox63]

Who thinks he will win?

IMO, Zuma may have a case.

"It showed Jacob Zuma, with the help of his political allies, threatening and intimidating the judiciary to try and manipulate the courts for him to be exonerated and escape going on trial [for corruption], thus paving the way for Zuma to become president," said Shapiro.

I have always thought could he not have found another way to illustrate this? Becuase the cartoon clearly shows that a gang rape is going down, and I think the Judge will agree that it is not a coincidence(sp?) that JZ was accused and found not guilty of rape, and yet Zapiro chose to portray him that way in the cartoon.

But AVUSA will probably fight it, but if I was them, I would settle out of court.

 

[LazyLion]

haha... I hope he wastes a ton of the ANC's money on this farce... and in a very ironic move, the court denies his petition. More members of the ANC are then disgusted at his antics and they leave the ANC to join COPE.

 

[gregmcc]

I doubt he will win. Freedom of speech. Hope he throws all the ANC's money away!

 

[stoke]

The marketing zuma gets out of these "cases" is amazing, an incentive that no politician can just ignore.

 

[USZA]

"

The publication of the aforesaid cartoon has injured our client in his dignity and reputation and as a result thereof he has suffered damages in the amount of R7-million," reads the letter.

It was served on Shapiro on Wednesday, but is dated September 15, a week after the cartoon appeared.

The R7-million claim consists of R5-million for alleged damage to Zuma's reputation and R2-million for alleged damage to his dignity. - Sapa

His reputation worth R5-million? His dignity worth R2-million? They're worth jack AFAIC. I think that he's making a collection for the legal bills for his past/upcoming court cases.

 

[alloytoo]

Looks like Zapiro has touched a nerve

Zuma sues Zapiro



He continues to rape the justice system.

The R7-million claim consists of R5-million for alleged damage to Zuma's reputation and R2-million for alleged damage to his dignity. - Sapa

I'd be rather curious as to how they quantify this, claims for damages in this country need to be justifiable, ie a loss of sales, or specific costs related to injury.

Is Jacob's reputation worth $5 million, after all his antics I'd say no, neither would I say a man who dances along to a machine gun song has any dignity.

 

[boramk]

Rape freedom of speech Zuma

 

[2CentsWorth]

IMO, Zuma may have a case.



I have always thought could he not have found another way to illustrate this? Becuase the cartoon clearly shows that a gang rape is going down, and I think the Judge will agree that it is not a coincidence(sp?) that JZ was accused and found not guilty of rape, and yet Zapiro chose to portray him that way in the cartoon.

But AVUSA will probably fight it, but if I was them, I would settle out of court.

All of that is irrelevant. Freedom of speech only has very specific limitations in this country: libel, hate speech and discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender. On libel, it is very difficult for Zuma to prove that he suffered any damage thanks to the cartoon. Especially as his case (the particular case depicted in the cartoon) was subsequently thrown out of court. As this is a parodoxical cartoon, and that there is absolutely no evidence that the information contained therein is blatantly untrue, he doesn't have much of a case. As for drawing a parallel with regards to his former rape trial - that is coincidental to the fact, and as such bears no relevance. Furthermore, Zapiro and AVUSA can easily argue that as no rape has taken place in the cartoon (it's allegedly about to take place), the insinuation that he is depicted as a rapist is skewed and holds no relevance.

What will be interesting is how long this case is drawn out. He took his time to sue - I imagine this is because he wants to draw it out as long as he can so that when he is president he can get rid of that pesky little thing we call freedom of speech.

 

[charlie_82]

Rape freedom of speech Zuma

ROFL, looks like Zapiro has another cartoon to draw up

 

[Slaine73]

Dignity, integrity, reputation, where?

 

[charlie_82]

All of that is irrelevant. Freedom of speech only has very specific limitations in this country: libel, hate speech and discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender.

Too true.
Although what was really amusing was that Zuma & his camp's first argument was that Lady Justice was a white woman...

 

[Slaine73]

Zuma has none of these, never had and never will....

 

[sox63]

All of that is irrelevant. Freedom of speech only has very specific limitations in this country: libel, hate speech and discrimination on the basis of race, religion or gender. On libel, it is very difficult for Zuma to prove that he suffered any damage thanks to the cartoon. Especially as his case (the particular case depicted in the cartoon) was subsequently thrown out of court. As this is a parodoxical cartoon, and that there is absolutely no evidence that the information contained therein is blatantly untrue, he doesn't have much of a case. As for drawing a parallel with regards to his former rape trial - that is coincidental to the fact, and as such bears no relevance. Furthermore, Zapiro and AVUSA can easily argue that as no rape has taken place in the cartoon (it's allegedly about to take place), the insinuation that he is depicted as a rapist is skewed and holds no relevance.

What will be interesting is how long this case is drawn out. He took his time to sue - I imagine this is because he wants to draw it out as long as he can so that when he is president he can get rid of that pesky little thing we call freedom of speech.

As I said, the Zuma legal team will argue that the image dies represent libel, the picture depicts him getting ready to rape the justice system.

And the rape does have relevance here as it has been a theme in Zapiro's images, hence the shower head that Zuma always has attached to his head. There are limits to freedom of speech, and as I said Zapiro could have found a better way illustrating this.

And this is a civil case mind you, there only has to be proof on a balance of probabilities that Zuma suffered damages a result of being depicted as a rapist while he was found not guilty of that charge. Which is why I think he has a case.

 

[Buddha]

what makes me lol is the fact that Zuma thinks that the avrg south african has 8mill to give to him in under 14days...

lol to spend a day in his mind.

 

[semiautomatix]

Its called a "mety-four".

Zapiro drew all those cartoons in the 80s and suffered far less persecution than at the hands of these supposed "freedom" fighters. Ironic that the ANC now is making an open attack on Freedom of Speech, something they were killed and imprisoned to ensure. Nelson Mandela must rue getting the morning paper these days.

 

[LazyLion]

8 mill is peanuts to the Sunday Times... but their freedom of speech is worth far more.

 

[2CentsWorth]

As I said, the Zuma legal team will argue that the image dies represent libel, the picture depicts him getting ready to rape the justice system.

There is no criminal charge that can be laid for "raping the justice system". Labelling him a racist under such guise is highly inaccurate, as there is no such thing. That is also an allegation made by Zuma - not Zapiro. The Justice system is not really a woman.

And the rape does have relevance here as it has been a theme in Zapiro's images,

Not quite. You're skewing the lines purposefully to try and make a case for Zuma. This is not about a rape case in the past - the reference to that is coincidental to the fact.

hence the shower head that Zuma always has attached to his head.

The shower attachment is due to statements he made in that case. Those statements are attributable to him and therefore not damaging. This lawsuit is not in reference to that in any case.

There are limits to freedom of speech, and as I said Zapiro could have found a better way illustrating this.

[In your opinion] he may have found a better way of illustrating it. However, as I've already noted, apart from libel there are other limitations on freedom of speech. And as this is a cartoon that has a clear message (Zuma getting ready to "rape" the justice system) none of the limitation apply. It's not hate speech. It's not racist. It's not discrimanation on religious or gender grounds. And most importantly, as it is a political satirical cartoon depicting what may be reasonably considered factual given the legal wrangling of Zuma in the past, it is not libellous.

And this is a civil case mind you, there only has to be proof on a balance of probabilities that Zuma suffered damages a result of being depicted as a rapist while he was found not guilty of that charge. Which is why I think he has a case.

The onus rests on Zuma to prove he suffered these damages. Remember, the court will take into consideration he is a public figure in the public eye, and as such his political life is open to ridicule. As the cartoon is a political satire, he will have an extremely tough time to prove it. He has no reasonable chance of victory in this case.