The ongoing legal battle between Jacob Zuma and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo has taken another turn, with the former president sending a letter to Zondo threatening legal action.
This comes after Zuma’s private prosecution appeal was recently denied by the Constitutional Court. In addition, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed his bid for private prosecution against senior state prosecutor advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan.
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Zuma’s letter to Zondo seeks clarification on the involvement of retired Judge Zak Yacoob and another judge recently appointed to assist the apex court. He questions whether Zondo was aware of Yacoob’s controversial political statements and insults, and why he was chosen over other retired justices without such disqualifying factors.
Zuma warns Zondo of potential legal consequences and a complaint of misconduct with the Judicial Services Commission if the requested information is not provided by a specified deadline. He compares Zondo’s conduct to that of Judge President Mandlakayise Hlophe, who was recently voted for removal by the National Assembly for alleged undue interference in judicial decisions.
In November of last year, Zuma’s private prosecution of Downer and Maughan was postponed to April 9, 2024. Zuma accuses them of unlawfully leaking his confidential doctor’s letter and seeks Downer’s removal from his arms deal fraud and corruption trial.
The charges against Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales include fraud, corruption, money laundering, and racketeering in connection with a controversial arms deal in the late 1990s. The state alleges that Zuma received corrupt payments from his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, in exchange for political protection in the arms deal inquiry.
Zuma and Thales have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the legal battle continues to unfold.
