Zuma to pursue private prosecution against Billy Downer

Zuma claims that Downer leaked Zuma’s medical records to the media, but he has failed in his court bid to have Downer recused from the case.

Last month the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Zuma’s bid to have Downer removed, paving way for the start of the trial on Monday.

Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi told a media briefing on Sunday that the NPA does not want to prosecute one of its own.

“Former president Zuma has informed the court in his previous affidavits that he had instructed his legal team to institute private prosecution proceedings against Adv Downer with immediate effect and as soon as the NPA announced its expected biased decision.

“The legal team has also filed a reconsideration application to the President of the SCA. President Zuma really wants is his day in court, in a fair trial and certainly not in a forum which is being rigged by the State and all the previous unfair and incorrect decisions which will hopefully be corrected by the higher courts.”

Zuma, who turns 80 on Tuesday, is expected to ask the Pietermaritzburg High Court to postpone the case while his application is being considered.

Zuma and co-accused French arms dealer Thales are facing charges of fraud and corruption related to  government’s multi-billion-rand arms deal of the late 1990s.

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