Cape Town – The Pietermaritzburg High Court has ruled that its decision to set aside former President Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution of State advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan is immediately enforceable, despite Zuma’s appeal bid.
Last September, Zuma issued summonses to Downer and Maughan for private prosecution, claiming that the State leaked a confidential doctor’s note to Maughan during his arms deal corruption trial.
In June, the High Court deemed the summonses unlawful, but Zuma appealed, which would usually suspend the ruling and allow the private prosecution to proceed.
BREAKING: Billy Downer and myself have won a ruling that enforces the High Court’s judgment that former President Zuma’s private prosecution against us is abusive and must be set aside.
This means ruling stands despite appeal efforts. Zuma ordered to pay attorney-client costs. pic.twitter.com/WIWl6eaOEt— Karyn Maughan (@karynmaughan) August 3, 2023
However, Downer and Maughan obtained a special order declaring the ruling immediately enforceable by demonstrating exceptional circumstances and that they would suffer irreparable harm.
The Court’s judgment condemned the abuse inherent in the private prosecution and upheld that it was an extension of Zuma’s “Stalingrad tactics.” Zuma has also been ordered to pay costs.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
