Jonathan Zapiro, the South African cartoonist being sued by the president of the ruling African National Congress, says the lawsuit against him is "intimidation".

Jacob Zuma is suing Zapiro for more than $700,000 over an image published by The Sunday Times in September showing Zuma apparently about to rape a woman who represents the justice system.

Zuma says the image demeans his reputation and dignity.

But Zapiro told Al Jazeera on Sunday: "He is trying to intimidate me and other members of the press."

Zuma is expected to become South Africa's next president in 2010, but repeated legal proceedings are raising questions about his commitment to a free media.

Zuma has launched 14 other lawsuits against the press.

Carl Niehaus, an ANC spokesman, said: "In general, the African National Congress, and many people in the ANC, including myself, have been very supportive of Jonathan Zapiro.

"We do believe that press freedom is important, but at certain times, one can unfortunately overstep the line and this was one of those cases."

Rape allegations

The cartoon first appeared when Zuma was on trial for corruption. He was later acquitted.

Zapiro says he has always been an ANC supporter, but now he is "going for" certain members he fears are acting wrongly.

"There are certain people like myself who have become disillusioned with the ANC, and who are going for them, or certain people within the ANC, really hard for doing things that we think are wrong," he told Al Jazeera.

"There is already a lawsuit against me, which has been around for a while, for cartoons I did a couple of years ago. It's sort of bubbling under, nothing is really happening.

"I would have thought that the intimidation attempt that that was, has been shown to be a bit of a failure in view of the fact that I just carried on, and so have most of the other people [Zuma] has sued."

Zuma launched 14 lawsuits against the press after being acquitted of rape charges [AFP]

"I think many people understand that Mr Zapiro has all the free speech he wants in this country. This is not a repressive country. It is probably one of the freest countries in the world and we do have press freedom.

"What we are dealing with here is overstepping the mark and trying someone, who has been tried before, and continuing with insinuation and allegation that that person is a rapist."

When asked if Zapiro would rethink his cartoons, he said: "I am absolutely determined to keep doing what I do.

"Along with other critics in society, it's what I am here for, I will certainly do hard-hitting cartoons in the future."