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Zuma collects R50000 from Rapport lawsuit

SUED: Rapport editor Tim du Plessis. Pic. Len Kumalo. 20/10/01. © Sowetan.
SUED: Rapport editor Tim du Plessis. Pic. Len Kumalo. 20/10/01. © Sowetan.

Rapport newspaper said yesterday it was satisfied with an out- of-court settlement reached with ANC president Jacob Zuma over a defamation and crimen injuria claim.

Rapport newspaper said yesterday it was satisfied with an out- of-court settlement reached with ANC president Jacob Zuma over a defamation and crimen injuria claim.

"I'm satisfied," was all Rapport editor Tim du Plessis wanted to say on hearing the news of the settlement yesterday.

The claim relates to a reader's letter published in Rapport on April 2 2006 while Zuma's rape trial was under way in the Johannesburg High Court.

Du Plessis said the letter had contained "one defamatory sentence".

He said the paper had later retracted the sentence and published an apology in October that year.

Zuma accepted a R50000 settlement offer from the owners of Rapport, Media 24, after filing a claim against them in 2006, said spokesman Liesl Gottert.

The parties will also cover Zuma's legal costs.

"Every human being has the right to dignity and no one should get away with malicious slander.

"As I have said from the outset, my claims for defamation and injuria arise from the principle of fair and honest reporting," said Zuma after the settlement was reached.

In 2006, Zuma lodged defamation claims against the media to the tune of R63million.

He is suing media owners, publishers, editors, reporters, cartoonists and newspapers.

One of the claims against a newspaper concerns "layout foul play".

Broadcaster 94,7 Highveld Stereo was to be sued for R7million 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 of a total of R20million against the Star. This claim consisted of four different claims of R5million each, three of which are against award-winning cartoonist Zapiro.

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

The Sunday Times, the Citizen, Sunday Sun, Sunday Independent and Sunday World are all being sued. - Sapa

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