Court rules in favour of Downer, Maughan against Zuma
The High Court in Pietermaritzburg has ruled in favour of News24 journalist Karyn Maughan and state prosecutor Billy Downer in their enforcement application.
Maughan and Downer asked the court not to suspend its previous ruling while Zuma’s application for leave to appeal is heard.
Zuma lodged an application for leave to appeal a ruling in June that the private prosecution is unlawful and an abuse of the court process.
The former president obtained a private prosecution certificate after the NPA in KwaZulu-Natal declined to prosecute Downer.
The latest judgment means Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan do not have to appear in court on Friday in his private prosecution matter.
In addition, the court also ordered Zuma to pay the costs, including the cost of two counsels.
Meanwhile, the JG Zuma Foundation announced that the former president has returned from his medical trip to Russia.
The foundation’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi confirmed on Wednesday that the check-up and observations went well.
"His return was also necessitated by the private prosecution matter which will be sitting in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday 4th August 2023.
“In terms of the law it is compulsory for the Private Prosecutor to appear whenever the Accused persons appear in terms of the summons or as ordered by a Judge," said Manyi.
The private prosecution will now continue without the presence of Maughan and Downer at court proceedings..
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