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South African President Files Defamation Suit Over Rape Cartoon

By Paul Shepard on Dec 14th 2010 11:51PM
Filed under: News, Politics, Race and Civil Rights

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South African President Files Defamation Suit Over Rape Cartoon


The cartoon (pictured below) is a subtle as a punch in the mouth.

With "Lady Justice" being held on the ground by a thick-lipped crew of thugs representing political and labor interests, South African President Jacob Zuma (pictured above) is shown unbuckling his pants before raping his victim.

The cartoon draws on the most vile representations of black men ever, especially explosive in South Africa where rape is an all-too common street crime.

The 2008 cartoon makes its point with a laser-like precision, but is it fair game to depict the president as a rapist?

That question will be answered shortly as Zuma has filed suit against the Sunday Times, the newspaper which published the drawing.

At the time it was published, Zuma had been acquitted on rape charges. And though Zuma had threatened to sue at the time, he had not followed through until this week.

Zuma is asking for $700,000 for damage to his reputation, humiliation and degradation.

South Africa's Human Rights Commission ruled in 2008 that while the cartoon was "probably offensive and distasteful" it did not violate Zuma's constitutional right to dignity.

For any society to flourish, the press must be free, even if the stories it writes, cartoons it draws and opinions it offers, make us cringe from time to time.

An open press has a difficult time surviving in many places - especially in Africa. And granting Zuma any relief in his suit will continue that trend; this would have a chilling effect on press freedoms in South Africa.

I can understand why Zuma is seeking to punish the newspaper. On the personal side, it was a scalding attack. As president of South Africa's new democracy, though, Zuma can't simply look at the personal side of the debate.

Zuma needs to do what is right for the country as a whole. And suing to limit the freedom of the press isn't right for South Africa or any nation.

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