Annisa Essack | kzn@radioislam.org.za
28 December 2022 | 13:00 PM CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: The South African

President Cyril Ramaphosa wants the Pretoria High Court to issue an order declaring the summons served on him by his predecessor Jacob Zuma for his private prosecution unlawful, invalid, and set aside.

On Monday, Ramaphosa filed papers in court seeking an urgent hearing, listing Zuma, the director of public prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the High Court Registrar in Johannesburg as respondents in the case.

Ramaphosa wants an interdict to prevent the respondents from giving effect to the NPA’s nolle prosequi certificate and the registrar’s summonses issued on 15 and 21 December.

Despite allegations of improper conduct against Billy Downer, Zuma has instituted a private prosecution against Ramaphosa.

Prof Andre Duvenhage, a political analyst, joined Mufti Yusuf Moosagie this morning to provide an analysis of the case.

Providing context on the case by Zuma, Duvenhage said there were many issues, but Zuma is misusing the ANC’s step-aside rule again to remove opponents. He added as Zuma was unsuccessful in his case against Advocate Billy Downer, he has now begun a private prosecution.

Speaking on the criteria regarding the case against the President, he said this was another side to the Stalingrad strategy used by Zuma.

He said that the court had given no substance to and he, too, saw no sense in the cases against Adv. Billy Downer. Furthermore, he added that Ramaphosa would be successful and the Zuma camp was buying time.

Regarding the role of Karen Maughan, the journalist Zuma was charging also alleged that she had received information about Zuma’s health from Advocate Downer, which she made public; however, he said that all the cases on this matter have been unsuccessful.

Duvenhage says Zuma did not follow due process and that he aims to remove Advocate Downer, who is very knowledgeable about the content of the case against Zuma, making him a risk. Furthermore, there is the possibility that Ramaphosa may act more strongly on the findings from Commissioners and individuals, which is a concern for Zuma and others.

Speaking about the interactions between Jacob Zuma and President Ramaphosa at the National Elective Conference, Duvenhage said he was certain there was little chance they were friends. Still, Ramaphosa was following the adage, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

Listen to the full interview with Prof Andre Duvenhage, a political analyst from the University of the Free State, hosted by Mufti Yusuf Moosagie on Sabahul Muslim.