Zuma gives media 'a break'

2008-02-01 14:50

Durban - A host of defamation claims lodged by the African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma against several publications were on Friday slashed to "approximately R12 million", a spokesperson for Zuma said.

Liesl Gottert said: "Mr Jacob Zuma will instruct his media legal team today to drop the defamation component of all media claims that he instituted against some media prior to the 52nd ANC Conference in Polokwane last year with respect to news, articles cartoons and opinions that were published prior to the conference.

"Mr Zuma will however proceed with claims that relate to the injury of his dignity in these matters."

This would amount to "approximately R12m".

The claims had been structured in such a way that Zuma claimed for personal injury and for damage to his public image.

Not 'that negative'

In 2006 Zuma lodged defamation claims against the media to the tune of R63m. He sued media owners, publishers, editors, reporters, cartoonists and newspapers.

Broadcaster 94.7 Highveld Stereo was to be sued for R7m for broadcasting a song called "My name is Zuma", commenting on the Zuma rape trial.

It was played by Darren "Whackhead" Simpson, a member of the radio station's Rude Awakening (RAW) team.

His biggest claim against one publication was R20m against The Star.

It consisted of four different claims of R5m each, three of which were against award-winning cartoonist Zapiro.

The fourth was for an article accompanied by a manipulated photograph of Zuma.

Gottert said the claim filed against the Rapport newspaper on January 17 was not among the 12 claims that Zuma's legal team was being instructed to reduce.

"He wants to give the media a break. The propaganda mounted against him by his detractors was not as successful as they had hoped.

"Obviously his image was not as damaged as he initially thought because he won (in Polokwane)."

In a statement released by Gottert, Zuma is quoted as saying: "As a politician in a democracy, one's reputation is of paramount importance because one is not supported if one is not respected.

"It was important for me to make the relevant media understand that there are rules that have to be played by, even if it concerns politicians.

"Then, as time went by, it became clear that although certain people had probably been influenced negatively, the people who know me were not fooled by the propaganda against me.

Polokwane proved that my impression was probably correct," he said.

- SAPA