Cape Town – The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Thursday withheld its judgment regarding former president Jacob Zuma’s attempt to contest the rejection of his private prosecution against advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan.
Zuma had initiated a private prosecution against Downer and Maughan but faced a ruling from the Kwazulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg invalidating his prosecution.
In a previous ruling, judges had declared Zuma’s private prosecution unlawful and an abuse of power.
Downer and Maughan appealed to block Zuma from pursuing further private prosecution against them while he appealed the matter.
During the proceedings on Thursday, arguments were made about the abuse of the legal system by Zuma and the alleged manipulation of the legal process.
“Mr Zuma’s constant cynical manipulation of the legal system has turned something that would have shocked you two years ago into the norm.
Sit back and watch an absolute legal masterclass from one of South Africa’s best lawyers ever, Adv Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC as he smashed The EFF’s disgraceful Dali Mpofu out the park. A massive loss for Dali and Jacob Zuma loading with punitive cost order.
DALI MPOFU IS USELESS pic.twitter.com/VAck1f53fL— Goolam (@goolammv) September 28, 2023
“What the court cannot allow is a manipulation of the legal system,” argued advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi for Maughan argued.
He added: “Anyone who attempts to manipulate the legal system for ulterior purposes should be stopped by the judges.”
Zuma had initiated the private prosecution after accusing Downer of leaking his confidential medical information to Maughan, a claim challenged by Downer and Maughan.
Zuma and French arms company Thales face multiple charges related to a multibillion-rand arms deal in 1999.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
