Zuma’s stint as private prosecutor short-lived as case adjourned

Former president Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution of advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan has been adjourned until August 4.

The pair made a brief appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court yesterday.

Zuma was present, sitting between his lawyers on the front bench.

Advocate Thabani Masuku, for Zuma, told judge Nkosinathi Chili the date had been agreed upon between the parties.

The postponement was due to the fact that both Downer who is the lead prosecutor in Zuma’s arms-deal-related trial

and Maughan had filed applications to set aside the private prosecutions.

These are to be argued next month.

Also outstanding is a ruling by judge Sidwell Mngadi on applications by the Helen Suzman Foundation, the Campaign for Free Expression, Media Monitoring Africa Trust and the South African National Editors’ Forum, which want to intervene as amicus curiae (friends of the court) in Downer and Maughan’s litigation.

Zuma has charged Downer and Maughan with contravening the NPA Act, relating to allegations that Downer leaked Zuma’s medical information, contained in a report to the court for postponement of his trial.

Both claim there is no substance to the allegations and the prosecutions are an abuse of process.

After the recusal by judge Piet Koen this week from hearing the arms-deal trial, Chili will now preside when it continues in April.

It is highly unlikely he will hear that trial, Downer and Maughan’s applications or any eventual criminal private prosecution of them.

A source said he had presided yesterday because it was known in advance it would just be a postponement.