The Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday rejected former President Jacob Zuma’s leave to appeal the removal of the chief prosecutor in his corruption case.
Zuma had no probable chance of winning the appeal, according to the Court of Appeal.
“We are pleased with this decision,” said Mthunzi Mhaga, a spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, saying the state will now focus on the next hearing scheduled for April 11, 2022.
Zuma sought leave to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court after the High Court in Pietermaritzburg denied his request to remove Prosecutor, Billy Downer in his corruption case on October 26, 2021.
Zuma said Downer acted impartially and had a personal obsession with prosecuting him.
According to the NPA, Downer has been working on the former statesman’s case for nearly 20 years and has a legal obligation to pursue it.
Zuma was indicted in June 2005, but legal issues and political controversy affected his case
The former statesman [Zuma] is now charged with two counts of corruption, one each of racketeering and money laundering, and 783 counts of fraud, allegedly accepting money from businessman Schabir Shaik and the French arms manufacturer Thales.
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