Zuma appeal hopeless, says SCA
THE Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) echoed Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen's words when dismissing former president Jacob Zuma's application to appeal his corruption prosecution, ruling there was “no reasonable prospect of success”.
Zuma approached the SCA following the dismissal of his bid to have State advocate Billy Downer removed from his corruption case.
The SCA yesterday dismissed with costs Zuma's application for leave to appeal, not only on the grounds that there was no reasonable prospect of success but also that there was “no other compelling reason why an appeal should be heard”.
Zuma had asked the appeal court for the right to challenge Judge Koen's dismissal of his "special plea" application.
Zuma wanted Downer to be removed as the chief prosecutor in his arms deal corruption case, accusing him of bias against him and having acted unlawfully on several occasions while handling confidential information.
Zuma alleged that Downer leaked vital information about him, including his medical records, to a journalist.
His “special plea” and petition at the SCA also included the refusal of the appeal and the refusal of the application to introduce new evidence at the high court.
He wanted witnesses to be called to testify about the abuses he claimed to have suffered at the hands of the State.
Judge Koen, citing several reasons during his plea dismissal, said he saw no prospect of success and the high stakes corruption trial should go ahead on April 11, 2022.
Issuing explicit instructions before setting the trial date, Judge Koen told Zuma's legal team to ensure the former head of state availed himself on the said date so that the arms deal corruption trial, which he previously said had been long delayed, could proceed.
The former president and French arms company Thales face corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering charges linked to the multibillion-rand arms deal.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the NPA welcomed the judgment and was now focused on ensuring that the trial resumes in April.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation could not be reached for comment by deadline.