President Ramaphosa welcomes South Gauteng High Court decision to interdict Zuma private prosecution

16 January 2023

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the decision handed down by the South Gauteng High Court Division to interdict the private prosecution brought against him by Former President Jacob Zuma from proceeding until the application to set aside the private prosecution is heard.  

The court affirmed all of the President’s key contentions, namely on jurisdiction of the court to hear the interdict application, the urgency of the matter against a court appearance date based on a prima facie unlawful nolle prosequi. The court further found in the President’s favour on the violation of rights to personal freedom based on a prima facie defective summons.  

The judgement confirms the positon of the President that the private prosecution is motivated by the ulterior purpose based on spurious and unfounded charges, constitutes an abuse of private prosecution provisions and demonstrates flagrant disregard for the law.

Issued by Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, 16 January 2023