Zuma sues SA media for millions

JOHANNESBURG – South African ex-deputy president Jacob Zuma is suing local papers and a radio station in a libel suit worth millions of dollars following his acquittal on rape charges, news reports said yesterday.

The former number two, who was acquitted in May of raping the daughter of a family friend last year, is pursuing at least seven newspapers and a local radio station for 63 million rand. “(Zuma’s) legal team last (Monday) night confirmed that letters have been finalised,” the Johannesburg-based The Citizen daily said.”All those being sued had 14 days to respond,” it added.Zuma’s libel targets included a 15 million rand suit against well-known South African cartoonist Zapiro, as well as a six million rand suit against Johannesburg-based Sunday Times’ outspoken columnist David Bullard.He is also suing local Johannesburg radio station 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s controversial breakfast show, ‘The Rude Awakening’ for seven million rand after they played a controversial song titled “My name is Zuma” on air.Should the defamation case proceed, it will be the largest in the country’s history, the Johannesburg-based Business Day reported.The proposed legal action comes in the wake of the politician’s acquittal early May on a charge that he raped the 31-year-old HIV-positive woman at his Johannesburg home in November last year.The judge in post-apartheid South Africa’s most sensational trial found that Zuma had unprotected but consensual sex with the woman and admonished him for not using a condom, but pronounced him free to go.During the trial, newspapers threw an intense spotlight on Zuma, 64, who apologised to the nation afterwards for having unprotected sex.Commentators however said the apology was seen as a politically astute move to relaunch his presidential ambitions when Thabo Mbeki steps down in 2009.But Zuma still faces a further hurdle when he is expected back in the dock on July 31 on graft charges relating to a multi-billion-dollar arms procurement deal.Mbeki sacked Zuma in June last year when a judge found that there was a “generally corrupt” relationship between Zuma and his financial adviser, who is now appealing a 15-year jail sentence.- Nampa-AFP”(Zuma’s) legal team last (Monday) night confirmed that letters have been finalised,” the Johannesburg-based The Citizen daily said.”All those being sued had 14 days to respond,” it added.Zuma’s libel targets included a 15 million rand suit against well-known South African cartoonist Zapiro, as well as a six million rand suit against Johannesburg-based Sunday Times’ outspoken columnist David Bullard.He is also suing local Johannesburg radio station 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s controversial breakfast show, ‘The Rude Awakening’ for seven million rand after they played a controversial song titled “My name is Zuma” on air.Should the defamation case proceed, it will be the largest in the country’s history, the Johannesburg-based Business Day reported.The proposed legal action comes in the wake of the politician’s acquittal early May on a charge that he raped the 31-year-old HIV-positive woman at his Johannesburg home in November last year.The judge in post-apartheid South Africa’s most sensational trial found that Zuma had unprotected but consensual sex with the woman and admonished him for not using a condom, but pronounced him free to go.During the trial, newspapers threw an intense spotlight on Zuma, 64, who apologised to the nation afterwards for having unprotected sex.Commentators however said the apology was seen as a politically astute move to relaunch his presidential ambitions when Thabo Mbeki steps down in 2009.But Zuma still faces a further hurdle when he is expected back in the dock on July 31 on graft charges relating to a multi-billion-dollar arms procurement deal.Mbeki sacked Zuma in June last year when a judge found that there was a “generally corrupt” relationship between Zuma and his financial adviser, who is now appealing a 15-year jail sentence.- Nampa-AFP