Former president Jacob Zuma will be in the Pietermaritzburg high court on Thursday — not as an accused, but as the private prosecutor in his case against advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan.
His foundation announced on Twitter he would be “on duty” and present in court when the pair make their second appearance on charges he laid against them for contravening the National Prosecuting Authority Act.
The Private Prosecutor, H.E President Zuma will be on duty in PMB HC on Thursday, 2nd February 2023.
— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) January 30, 2023
In the dock will be Accused No1, Adv Downer SC and Accused No2 Karyn Maughan.
The preciding judge will be in RED ROBES because this case is a criminal matter. pic.twitter.com/MxNZnOMscr
Zuma claims Downer leaked a confidential medical report to Maughan. However, the report was submitted to court by his lawyers in an application for a postponement of his arms deal-related trial in which Downer is the lead prosecutor.
Downer and Maughan have lodged applications aimed at quashing the charges. These have been set down for hearing in March.
Because of this, the case against them cannot proceed on Thursday and will have to be adjourned to a future date.
Also outstanding is a ruling by judge Sidwell Mngadi on applications launched by the Helen Suzman Foundation, the Campaign for Free Expression, Media Monitoring Africa Trust and the South African National Editors' Forum, who want to intervene as amicus curiae (friends of the court) in Downer and Maughan’s litigation.
Zuma opposed these applications, accusing them of being “misguided busy-bodies and celebrity litigants”.
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