By Simon Nare
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma’s application to have prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer recuse himself from the arms deal corruption trial.
In a one-page ruling delivered in Bloemfontein, Judges Dumusani Zondi and Baratang Mocumie dismissed Zuma’s application for leave to appeal with costs, finding that it had no reasonable prospects of success.
“The application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs on the grounds that there are no reasonable prospects of success and no other compelling reason why an appeal should be heard,” the court ruled.
The decision marks Zuma’s second failed attempt to force Downer’s removal.
Zuma has argued that he would not receive a fair trial if Downer continued to prosecute him.
Zuma faces charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering linked to the 1999 arms procurement deal, alongside French arms manufacturer Thales.
The state alleges that Thales
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