* Four-year-old legal battle comes to an end
* Critics say president has tried to muzzle media
By Jon Herskovitz
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 28 (Reuters) – South African President
Jacob Zuma intends to drop a four-year-old lawsuit claiming
nearly $600,000 in damages from a cartoonist who depicted him
poised to rape “Lady Justice”, a newspaper said on Sunday.
The Sunday Times, named as a defendant in the case, said it
had reached an agreement with Zuma’s lawyers for the suit and
all claims to be dropped, including the demand for monetary
damages and an apology.
Officials for the South African presidency were not
immediately available for comment.
The civil case had been due to start on Monday.
Zuma, facing re-election for leader of the ruling African
National Congress (ANC) at the end of the year, has been
criticised for pushing laws seen as trying to muzzle the media.
If the case went forward, it could have provided ammunition
for foes in the party who say he wants to silence his critics
through bullying.
Continued…
