PHUTI MOSOMANE
PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has given former President Jacob Zuma until Monday to withdraw summons against him.
Ramaphosa says Zuma issued the summons on the eve of the ANC’s national elective conference in an attempt to halt his chances of retaining the party’s presidency, according to a letter the State Attorneys sent to Zuma’s lawyers.
“The purported summons were served on the President a day before the 55th National Conference of the African National Congress was due to commence. It is common knowledge that the President will stand for re-election as Presidential candidate. It appears that the purported summons were served to halt this candidature. This is an abuse of process,” the letter reads.
“We call upon your client to withdraw the invalid summons on the basis that each party pays their own costs. Should your client not do so by 19 December 2022, we reserve the right to take further steps as may be required and shall seek punitive costs against your client for the wasteful costs arising therefrom.”
Zuma announced on Friday that he will privately prosecute Ramaphosa.
Zuma instituted a private prosecution of Ramaphosa “for being an accessory after the fact in the crimes committed by among others Advocate [Billy] Downer namely, breaching the provisions of the NPA Act”.
Earlier on Saturday, the ANC’s Electoral committee dismissed former President Zuma’s bid to privately prosecute Ramaphosa.
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