By Thys Khiba – Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal High Court has postponed former president Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution of State Advocate Billy Downer and News24 journalist Karyn Maughanto 2 February 2023.
This comes after Zuma opened a criminal complaint, in October last year, at Pietermaritzburg police station against Downer for allegedly leaking his confidential medical records to Maughan.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) opted to give Zuma a private prosecution certificate, in June 2022, after it refused to prosecute Downer.
Zuma who arrived at the High Court as a ‘free man’ decided to address his political supporters after the postponement of matter.
He told his supporters that he is now going to sing his well-known political song “Umshini Want,” since his 15-month prison term ended. Former president was released on medical parole in September 2021.
Party provincial chairperson in KwaZulu Natal, Siboniso Duma confirmed that the ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC)decided to declare their support for Zuma’s court appearing as one of their conference resolutions.
“Although today is a historic day because he is the one who was advancing on private prosecution in ensuring that the Downers of this world, the Maughans of this world are also sitting on the dock,” said Duma.
Meanwhile, Maughan appeared in a separate courtroom in the High Court for her urgent court application to interdict Zuma from launching a private prosecution against her.
Her employees News24 confirmed their intentions to approach the provincial Judge President Isaac Madondo to have both matters heard together.
News24 Editor Adrian Basson told media that they will keep on supporting and fighting for Maughan.
“So as News24, we brought this urgent application to dismiss the prosecution of former president Jacob Zuma against KarynMaughan. We believe that this is an absolute violation of court processes. He is trying to silence the journalist. We are asking the courts to do away with this matter before it starts,” said Basson.
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