![Former President Jacob Zuma speaks to supporters who gathered at his home, after the Constitutional Court agreed to hear his challenge to a 15-month jail term, in Nkandla, South Africa. [File image]](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Zuma-addre-new-or-not.png)
In a tweet, the Jacob Zuma Foundation says a charge is expected to be laid at the Pietermaritzburg police station. Zuma and Thales are facing charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering in connection with the 1999 multi-billion-rand arms deal.
The latest news of a formal charge against Downer comes ahead of what is expected to be judgment, on for Zuma’s special plea calling for Downer’s recusal.
The charge is said to be linked to Zuma’s claim that Downer leaked information about his current state of health to the media. Zuma’s legal team alleged that a media house then made inquiries based on the contents of the medical report. Besides Downer’s removal, Zuma also asked the court for an acquittal.
Zuma’s court case
Zuma’s Advocate Dali Mpofu said during an application to get Downer removed, that if the court does not take steps on the leaked letter, Zuma plans to lay a criminal charge.
“Anybody My Lord . . . Yourself My Lord with respect, me, anyone else . . How would you feel if your family members find out from a newspaper report that you suffer from a condition which poses a significant risk to your life? And you’re told, ‘that’s merely, you know.’ And people, relatives, friends – must find that out because of leakage by the NPA.”
Court proceedings below:
