Cape Town – The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has declared former South African President Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution of President Cyril Ramaphosa as unlawful and unconstitutional.
Zuma had initiated the private prosecution against Ramaphosa, accusing him of being involved in a criminal offence and failing to act when he complained about alleged improper behaviour by State Advocate Billy Downer.
The judge ruled in favour of Ramaphosa, stating that Zuma’s private prosecution was interdicted and ordered Zuma to pay Ramaphosa’s legal costs.
Former president Jacob Zuma’s attempt to privately prosecute his successor has failed. The High Court in Johannesburg has declared his prosecution of President Cyril Ramaphosa invalid and unconstitutional. #eNCA #DStv403 #QuestionThinkAct #AllAngles pic.twitter.com/veLQ6yEzKs
— eNCA (@eNCA) July 5, 2023
“Mr Zuma’s private prosecution of Mr Ramaphosa in respect of the charges set out in the summons and grounded on the allegations set out in the summary of facts attached to the summons is interdicted,” read the judgement.
“Mr Zuma’s private prosecution of Mr Ramaphosa instituted under the summons is unlawful and unconstitutional and is set aside.”
The ruling has been welcomed by the African National Congress (ANC) party, with the hope that the case is now resolved.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
