Presidency welcomes outcome of Zuma’s private prosecution bid

The Presidency has welcomed the Johannesburg High Court’s judgement to have the private prosecution instigated against the head of state, set aside.

This is following months of court battles, dating back to when the bid was first brought forward in December 2022, by his predecessor, Jacob Zuma.

Zuma, who brought about the bid, was amid his own infamous trial regarding the Arms Deal, which he is alleged to have involvement in.

The former statesman seems to be notorious for initiating private prosecutions, but it seems, he is making it trendy to lose them too.

With his first defeat resulting in the courts setting aside his private prosecution against Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan, Zuma fate in his private prosecution bid against Ramaphosa should have already been set.

ALSO READ: ‘Abuse of court processes’: Ramaphosa welcomes court’s decision on Zuma’s private prosecution

THE BEGINNING OF THE ZUMA-RAMAPHOSA FUED 

It’s safe to say that Zuma and Ramaphosa have had their own set of differences over the years, however, the ANC National Elective Conference was a catalyst for it all.

With a very prominent anti- Ramaphosa faction and Phala Phala dominating headlines, Zuma added the cherry on the cake, initiating a private prosecution against Ramaphosa the day before the ANC’s conference.

This is an act that would spark more conversation and pose a threat to Ramaphosa’s campaign at the time, who’s opposition was already heightened by the party’s outcastes and side-lined former members such as Carl Niehaus and Ace Magashule who held their own demonstration during the conference.

In his bid, Zuma accused Ramaphosa of being an “accessory” to a crime for what he describes as not investigating advocate Billy Downer for his involvement in the alleged leaking of his medical records to Karyn Maughan during the Arms Deal Trial.

ALSO READ: ‘Unlawful and unconstitutional’: Court throws out Zuma’s private prosecution of Ramaphosa

PRESIDENCY IS PLEASED WITH THE JUDGEMENT

Following the judgement made, the Presidency has welcomed the judgement, adding that the “President has always maintained that Mr. Zuma’s private prosecution constituted an abuse of court processes and that it was unlawful and unconstitutional”.

With the case now over, Zuma is expected to pay Ramaphosa’s legal fees.