Photographer wants R3-million for NDZ portrait
Just days away from the ANC elective conference, the Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma campaign has been plunged into a copyright row over its official portrait of her.
Local photographer Neo Ntsoma said the campaign was using her photo without permission and she wanted R3-million in compensation.
Ntsoma took pictures of Dlamini-Zuma after being commissioned to do so by the AU Foundation last June, when Dlamini-Zuma was still chairwoman of the AU Commission."If we can't settle we will then consider a court application for an interdict and then a damages claim," said the lawyer, who asked not to be named.
Dlamini-Zuma's communication manager, Vukani Lumumba, confirmed that the campaign was aware of Ntsoma's complaint but said it had received permission to use the picture from the chief operating officer of the AU Foundation, Dumisani Mngadi.
Lumumba said that he had been trying to resolve the matter with Ntsoma, with little success.
"I met with her lawyers and I said that if we caused you harm we apologise. We want to sort this out amicably," he said.
Lumumba said the campaign had no intention of breaching anyone's copyright and respected artists and their work.
Mngadi did not respond to a request for comment...
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