Zapiro slams media tribunal

2008-04-15 21:27

Johannesburg - Acclaimed cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) expressed concern on Tuesday over the state of media freedom in South Africa.

"I am concerned, but let me get this straight, I don't think we are backsliding to the extent that some people say... but there are some very strange things happening," Zapiro said at a discussion on cartooning held by Wits Journalism School.

Zapiro cited pre-publication censorship, such as described by the Films and Publications Amendment Bill, and the African National Congress's proposal for the establishment of a media tribunal.

"I think it is an appalling idea (the tribunal)... absolutely appalling."

Zapiro is the target of a lawsuit by newly-elected African National Congress president Jacob Zuma, the biggest against a cartoonist in South Africa's history.

While it started out at being a R15m lawsuit for damaging Zuma's rights to dignity, Zapiro said he had since learnt the claim had been reduced to R5m.

Zuma has been the centrepiece of many caricatures by Zapiro, particularly during Zuma's rape trial where he made controversial comments about showering to diminish exposure to HIV virus.

Zapiro described Zuma as a man who always played the victim, and said he was not worried about the fact that a lawsuit had been brought against him.

He said he was an avid believer in freedom of expression and would draw the line only when his work had the potential to cause violence or physical harm to his audience.

Zapiro, however, came out against a controversial cartoon published in a Danish newspaper depicting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

- SAPA