Will Downer be removed? Zuma will only know in October
Former President Jacob Zuma’s special plea hearing continued at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday.
The court is heard arguments on why National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) lead prosecutor, Billy Downer, should be removed from the case.
Zuma’s recusal application was heard in his absence on Monday, with the spotlight on his health. This after the NPA’s medical team stated the former president is “medically fit” to stand trial.
Zuma’s case continues
Case continues in October
Former President Jacob Zuma will only know in April – in about four weeks from now – whether his bid to have prosecutor Billy Downer removed was successful.
Wim Trengove, representing the State, said there are no material disputes of facts”, adding that Zuma “realises he has not made a case on the papers at all.”
“He’s not asking for an opportunity to abuse any other evidence, he realises that his conspiracy theories do not stand up,” Trengove added.
Zuma’s medical parole
Zuma was sentenced to 15 months behind bars at the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, but was released on medical parole in early September
As reported at the time, Zuma was granted parole in terms of Section 75(7)(a) of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998, with DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo saying:
“Medical parole’s eligibility for Mr Zuma is impelled by a medical report received by the Department of Correctional Services.”
“Apart from being terminally ill and physically incapacitated, inmates suffering from an illness that severely limits their daily activity or self-care can also be considered for medical parole”.
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A ‘political prisoner’
The former president released the first statement since his release from prison, in which he criticised the processes that resulted in his imprisonment.
He said history would vindicate him, adding that South Africa “is in the process of changing from a constitutional democracy to a constitutional dictatorship”.
He said many South Africans were “blind to this reality […] because they had been successfully hypnotised by the long-standing anti-Zuma narrative
“It is perhaps convenient or even benefiting for others that the laws of this country be repeatedly bent and manipulated when dealing with Zuma”, he said on Monday.
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