AfricaNews political desk with files from BBC
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa has sued a cartoonist and a newspaper for a controversial drawing of him published two years ago in the Sunday Times. Jonathan Shapiro depicted the southern African leader - who at the time had yet to become president - about to rape the justice system.
According to the BBC, the cartoonist, known as "Zapiro", told South Africa's Times paper that he fully stood by the cartoon and the views it expressed. The caricature appeared when Zuma was facing a corruption trial, later dismissed, and after he had been acquitted of rape.
Shapiro has said he will not be intimidated.
It showed a woman, wearing a sash with the words "Justice System", being pinned down by four figures.
They represented the governing African National Congress (ANC), the ANC Youth League, the South African Communist Party and trade union organisation Cosatu. "Go for it, Boss!" they say to Mr Zuma, shown unbuckling his belt.
Zuma's lawyers are demanding damages of $731,000 (£460,000).
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