Nushera Soodyal
Former president Jacob Zuma's private prosecution of News24 journalist Karyn Maughan and the lead prosecutor in his corruption case, Billy Downer, has been postponed to February.
Last year, Zuma laid criminal charges against Downer, accusing him of leaking his medical records to Maughan, a claim the NPA denies.
The Director of Public Prosecutions declined to prosecute Downer, saying there was insufficient evidence.
Zuma summonsed Maughan and Downer to appear before the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday. Maughan filed an urgent application asking the Pietermaritzburg High Court to set aside the matter.
She's arguing the move has the ulterior purpose of intimidating and harassing her and preventing her from freely doing her job.
That application was heard in a different courtroom this morning.
All parties involved told the court they had decided to approach the Judge President on when it can be heard.
Shortly after, Maughan and Downer lined up in the dock of Court A for Zuma's private prosecution matter.
The court heard the prosecution cannot go ahead on the basis no nolle prosequi certificate has been obtained for Maughan.
Maughan also argued that she published the contents of Zuma's medical letter after it was filed three times in court, making it a public document.
Downer told the court the summons is an abuse of the courts.
