Zuma to appeal failed private prosecution bid
The Jacob Zuma Foundation says the former president will seek to appeal a High Court judgment on his private prosecution bid against prosecutor Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan.
“President Zuma will appeal this bizarre judgment by the Pietermaritzburg High Court as regards the private prosecution of Adv Downer and Karyn Maughan,” the foundation's spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said on Wednesday.
The High Court in Pietermaritzburg earlier dismissed the former president’s bid to privately prosecute News24 journalist Karyn Maughan and State Advocate Bill Downer.
The former president made a brief court appearance for the judgment in his private prosecution bid.
In his ruling, Judge Paul Wallis said Zuma has been ordered to pay costs on the attorney and client's own scale, as well as the costs of two advocates.
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"The respondent (Zuma) is interdicted and restrained from reinstituting, proceeding with, or from taking any further steps pursuant to, the private prosecution."
Manyi said Section 41 of the National Prosecuting Authority had been transgressed.
Legal analyst Llewelyn Curlewis said the only option available to Zuma is an appeal.
“This is the end of the road for private prosecution by Jacob Zuma, the interdict that was awarded against him together with the special cast order is indicative of the court's inclination to the applicants to say that it suggests that there are no merits in private prosecution either against Billy Downer or Karen Maughan.
“The only alternative available for former president Zuma at this stage is to consider requesting leave to appeal, which I expect him to do as he has always done that before, but I am also of the opinion that he will not be successful in that either.”
