Zuma files SCA application over Downer recusal
Former president Jacob Zuma has made his next move in the fight to have State Prosecutor Billy Downer recused from his corruption trial.
Zuma wants Downer removed from the case, accusing his of being obsessive, as well as lacking in impartiality and objectivity.
Downer is also accused of leaking Zuma's medical records to media - a claim Downer described as baseless.
Zuma's calls have seen the decade-long arms deal-related corruption case against the politician and French arms manufacturer Thales stalled for months.
In October last year, the Pietermaritzburg High Court dismissed the recusal application.
Judge Piet Koen labelled Zuma's attacks on Downer as speculative.
Now Zuma's legal team has turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein.
Spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation Mzwanele Manyi confirmed lawyers lodged an application to the court on Wednesday.
"The foundation is of the firm view that both rulings of Judge Koen were erroneous and riddle with irregularities and glaring misdirections of law and facts. we are therefore highly optimistic that where the lower court failed, justice will be done in the higher court.
"President Zuma is very confident that the petition raises very good grounds and also some very interesting Constitutional issues which we are very confident that the Supreme Court of Appeal will answer in this petition."
Zuma's lawyers also want to submit new evidence against Downer.
"This is a delaying tactic by the State because surely if the State was serious about this case, it cannot be that an impression must be created that only Billy Downer can do this thing.
"The State is busy giving the impression that without Billy Downer, the Earth can't move. So, it's the State that is delaying this case which is quite unfortunate," Manyi added.
Zuma's trial is set to start on 11 April.
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