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 heard arguments on why National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) lead prosecutor, Billy Downer should be removed from the case.

Zuma’s recusal application was heard in his absence, 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

Judge Piet Koen reserved judgment in the matter after he heard a long day of arguments between Zuma’s counsel – advocate Dali Mpofu and Advocate Thabani Masuku – as well as advocate Wim Trengove.

The judgement will be delivered on 26 October.

Trengove – who represents the NPA and Downer – 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 versus Downer

This is not the first time Zuma has gunned for Downer, with the former president previously accusing the lead prosecutor of being part of a conspiracy to get him arrested at all costs.

Zuma accused Downer of smearing his name and providing information to the media on his arms deal corruption case, and is challenging Downer’s title to prosecute.

He has called for his recusal after having filed a special-plea application. In addition, if he’s successful, Zuma also wants to be acquitted.

ALSO READ: Is Zuma telling old lies about Bill Downer? The NPA thinks so

Zuma’s medical parole

The former statesman 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”.

ALSO READ: Zuma is fit to stand trial, so why isn’t he in court?

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.