Jacob Zuma returns home. Court rules against him

Just a day after returning from Russia, former President Jacob Zuma’s bid to privately prosecute senior state prosecutor Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan, has been dealt a blow after the Pietermaritzburg High Court has decided to immediately set the matter aside.

MAUGHAN WIN ENFORCEMENT APPLICATION AGAINST ZUMA

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The court had previously deemed Zuma’s decision to privately prosecute invalid. Zuma had appealed the decision. The enforcement application granted to Maughan and Downer prevents Zuma from further pursuing the matter while his appeal bid is still under review.

Towards the end of 2022, Zuma’s legal team issued Maughan and Downer with summons to appear in court as it sought relief for alleged leaking of doctor’s note from the State to Maughan during his arms deal trial.

A full bench claimed Zuma was applying delay tactics. It also noted that Maughan and Downer were ‘merely exercising their common law rights not to be subjected to an unlawful prosecution which is an abuse of power.’

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Zuma has also been ordered to pay the costs of the application.

JACOB ZUMA RUSSIA TRIP

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The former statesman returned from a medical trip to Russia on Wednesday. In July there were calls from different political corners calling for the 81year to go back to prison as he is contempt of his parole conditions.

This comes after the Constitutional Court stood by a Supreme Court of Appeal decision which deemed Zuma’s granting of medical parole as invalid.

This means that Zuma, who had only served about two months of his 15 month sentence, is to had himself over to Escort Correctional Services.

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