'Thank you for standing up for me' - Zuma on July unrest
Former President
Jacob Zuma has thanked protestors involved in the July unrest that rocked KZN
and Gauteng for their stance against his imprisonment.
Zuma was addressing a crowd of supporters outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday, where he's brought forward private prosecution against News24 journalist Karyn Maughan and advocate Billy Downer.
The case was postponed to February next year.
Zuma claims that Downer violated the NPA Act by leaking his medical information to Maughan, a charge they both deny.
He thanked the crowds for their support and that he can now speak and move freely after his 15-month jail sentence expired on Friday.
READ: Zuma thanks supporters for support during contempt sentence
"I was told that the country is burning because some South Africans disagree with those who sent me to jail," he said.
"I also heard that there are people that have been arrested linked to the July unrest.
"But I want to thank you all for standing up for me."
The former head of state says he is confident he has a strong case against Downer and Maughan. He says he is usually the one in court facing charges but this time he is the one laying a charge. " We are here to let prosecutor Billy Downer face the courts because he has broken the law."
"A prosecutor should not be sharing private court information with a journalist. They are used to doing that - but they have tried the wrong person this time. I got them."
