Cape Town – Former President Jacob Zuma has experienced a second legal setback in less than 24 hours.
His application to appeal in his private prosecution case against President Cyril Ramaphosa has been dismissed by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg.
Zuma had sought to overturn a previous judgment that prevented him from prosecuting Ramaphosa.
[BREAKING NEWS] Former president Jacob Zuma’s application to privately prosecute President Cyril Ramaphosa has been dismissed.
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He accused Ramaphosa of being complicit in a separate private prosecution case against prosecutor Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan for alleged violations of the National Prosecuting Authority Act.
According to The Citizen, in their ruling, judges Mahomed Ismail, Selby Baqwa and Lebogang Modiba said Zuma’s private prosecution of the president was unlawful and unconstitutional.
The judges said Zuma brought the private prosecution against Ramaphosa “for an ulterior purpose in what amounts to an abuse of this court’s process”.
Additionally, Zuma’s attempt to appeal the dismissal of his private prosecution case against Downer and Maughan was also rejected by the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The court upheld its original decision, stating that Zuma’s appeal lacked merit.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu