Jacob zuma
The day that was: Child trafficking in SA, smiling Jacob Zuma returns to court
The Eyewitness News bulletin with Jane Dutton.
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The matter relates to Zuma’s claim that Ramaphosa essentially failed to act on a complaint against State advocate, Billy Downer, against whom he’s also launched a private prosecution, which has also been reviewed and set aside.
Zuma’s private prosecution of Ramaphosa was reviewed and set aside by a full bench of the High Court in Johannesburg in July. In September, the same full bench also refused him leave to appeal. So, what will happen on Monday is unknown at this stage.
The case was brought against him after he hosted a press conference during the July 2021 unrest where he voiced his support for former president Jacob Zuma who was at the time in prison for contempt of court.
The Randburg Magistrates Court on Friday found Mchunu not guilty on charges of contravening the Disaster Management Act and inciting violence.
The charges relate to incitement to commit violence and breaching the Disaster Management Act, with the Randburg Magistrates Court finding the State did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The matter came before the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Wednesday, where Judge Nkosinathi Chili postponed proceedings to 9 April 2024.
The High Court in Pietermaritzburg has ruled that State advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan don’t have to sit in the dock for the private prosecution proceedings former President Jacob Zuma’s brought against them for now.
The private prosecution was set aside as unlawful and an abuse of process in June. The Pietermaritzburg High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal have both found against Jacob Zuma, but he’s now approached the Constitutional Court.
Mpumelelo Zikalala highlights that as it stands there have been no findings against Downer - and the allegations against him are just that: allegations.
In the papers before the Constitutional Court, filed late on Wednesday, Zuma’s lawyers describes as 'incorrect' the position that he’s motivated by a desire to avoid his day in court.
Earlier on in the proceedings, Zuma’s counsel - Dali Mpofu - labelled the argument that Zuma’s using Stalingrad tactics as “nonsensical”.
Zuma and Downer faced off in the Pietermaritzburg High Court again on Thursday, for an application from the former president for the State advocate to be removed from the case in which Zuma is accused number one.
Advocate Dali Mpofu, acting for the former president, on Thursday told the court they had now approached the Constitutional Court.
This arms deal corruption case is back before the High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday. The court’s hearing a second application from Jacob Zuma aimed at having State advocate Billy Downer removed from the case.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court is on Thursday set to hear a second bid from Zuma aimed at having Downer, who’s leading the prosecution, removed from the case.
Former South African statesman Jacob Zuma wanted advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan prosecuted over claims that the State leaked his personal medical information to the journalist during his arms deals corruption trial.
The Eyewitness News bulletin with Mathapelo Moloi.