Ramaphosa granted urgent interdict pending Zuma court challenge
Gauteng deputy judge president Ronald Sutherland has granted
President Cyril Ramaphosa an urgent interdict to temporarily halt the former
presidents' private prosecution bid on Monday.
The matter was heard by the full bench sitting in the High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday.
Zuma is accusing the president of several crimes, including being an accessory after the fact in relation to his medical records that he claims senior state prosecutor Billy Downer leaked to journalist Karyn Maughan.
Judge Sutherland says a management meeting has to be set up for the date of the hearing of part B of the case, which will deal with the main application against Downer and Maughan.
"The costs of this application were hotly debated however it is unnecessary for us in this urgent hearing to address that question which shall be reserved for a decision of the hearing of the main case. It is for this reason that an order will be issued in the following terms:
One: The application is urgent and the ordinary forms and services provided for the uniform rules of the court are dispensed with.
Two: Pending the final determination of part B, the first respondent is interdicted from taking any further steps to give effect to the nolle prosequi certificate of 21 November 2022 and 06 June 2022 and the summons is issued by the register on the 15th and 21st of December 2022 or to pursue a private prosecution under case number 59772 of 2022 against the applicant in any way.
Three: The cost occasioned by this urgent application shall be reserved for decision at the hearing of part B of this case.
Four: The party's representatives are directed to immediately approach the office of deputy judge president in Johannesburg to arrange a case management meeting to set an agreed date on the hearing of part B.
