Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj, who extended the invitation to Shapiro, had said a debate would help “create an environment of dialogue rather than confrontation”, the Star reported.  

On Monday, the suit against Shapiro and the Sunday Times over the “Lady Justice” cartoon was formally withdrawn.

Maharaj said: “Let’s look at [the cartoon] through the multicultural lens of South Africa... in an atmosphere where we can listen to each other and stop pretending that any one individual has the infallible answers to all our problems”.  

He had labelled Shapiro’s cartoon racist, and had said it was informed by “ingrained prejudices” about African male sexuality.  

Shapiro told the newspaper he considered this a deliberate “red herring”, but found the idea of a public debate intriguing.  

“I’m never one to shy away from debate, but in this context we have won a total victory (ie the withdrawal of charges) and they’re trying to score points now.”  

Charges were laid against Shapiro and the Sunday Times in 2008 after it published the cartoon depicting Zuma loosening his trousers and apparently about to rape “Lady Justice”.  

Zuma initially wanted R5 million, but the amount was later reduced to R4 million. He subsequently dropped the charge of impairment of dignity and further reduced the amount to R100,000 for defamation and an unconditional apology, before dropping the case entirely.

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Sat May 18 09:50:26 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 30, 2012

Kinggeezo

A very good idea from the presidency, a public debate. I just wonder who's idea it was cause I know the zoomer to shy away from debates, I strongly believe as a country we should go the American way and let the candidates running for presidency go for it on stage, live on national the broadcaster so we can make an informed choice based on what the guy really stands for.
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Oct 30, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

Useless issues are the only things Mac Maharaj and Zuma know to confront publicly. Zille challenged him for a public debate to discuss about the country's problems and he refused and now this cartoon problem - i'm dissapointed
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Oct 30, 2012

Nwanawamukalaha

Shapiro must not be threatened about the public debate, if i were him i was gonna go and hummer the stu&&&id Zuma public since this is about his (Zuma's) way of doing things in the highest office in land.
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Oct 30, 2012

Kon-Tiki

Zapiro has got nothing to loose. The president was advised to drop the lawsuit because his advisors could not expect their dancing king to face any embarrassment so close to the Mangaung conference. I managed to catch Maharaj & Usebius arguing about the merit of the case and clearly there was no winner. You just do not drop a winnable case.
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Oct 30, 2012

MommaC

i would LOVE to see that. Won't happen though as Mac will bail.
Why always the race card? Is that really the sum total of their debating ability?
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Oct 30, 2012

DJ-Winner

Zapiro must stop this thing of insulting the President. He never made any cartoon of Zille. That is why people say he is racist...
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Oct 30, 2012

DNAambassador

Haha "I’m never one to shy away from debate, but in this context we have won a total victory", talk about being blinded from reality. He refuses to debate Zille but now he wants to debate this classy oke, its all about getting the people's sympathy, not all people mind you just the ANC's non-white supporters, like with the Spear.
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Oct 30, 2012

Tasto_

ThaboMbeki asked for a chance to debate in public with Jacob zuma and his team decline we know why.Hellen Zille extended the invite as usual decline.Zapiro is a small fry, Mac what happenend to your case against Mail&Gaurdian for reporting on your corruption&your wife?
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Oct 30, 2012

Phuphethakatha

"Zuma rejects Zille request for debate" Why can't the president share the podium with an opposition leader? He's scared of being crucified? Now he wants to tame Zapiro, so he could glorify the Prez in his cartoons...
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Oct 30, 2012

!#Sinudeity#!

DJ-Winner - Zapiro made plenty of cartoons on hellen dude. Your duuumb@ss president deserves all the insults that the South African people can muster.
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