Downer, Maughan win bid to set aside private prosecution by Zuma

Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan have won their application to set aside their private prosecution bid instituted by former president, Jacob Zuma, at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.

BREAKING NEWS | Advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan have won their case to set aside former President Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution. Zuma is accusing Downer of allegedly leaking his confidential medical records to Maughan. pic.twitter.com/ujj2kuEnvF

— SABC News (@SABCNews) June 7, 2023

Maughan and Downer were asking the court to set aside the private prosecution and also for an interdict to prevent Zuma from pressing charges against them in the future.

They both contend that Zuma’s medical documents were part of the public court record before they were published in the media.

This after the former President accused Downer of allegedly leaking his confidential medical records to Maughan.

Legal expert, Mpumelelo Zikalala, says Zuma can appeal the matter.

“Any of the aggrieved parties still has an opportunity to go to the SCA (Supreme Court of Appeal) or even the Constitutional Court. There’s a very small number of courts that have dealt with this type of dispute and surely it’s going to increase the jurisprudence that we have as SA when the matter goes onto a higher court either the SCA or the Concourt if either of the parties decide to do so.”

Downer, Maughan win application to set aside Zuma’s private prosecution bid: Mpumelelo Zikalala