A day after Jacob Zuma Foundation announced his intention to bring criminal charges against State advocate Billy Downer for allegedly leaking affidavits containing information about his health.

Accompanied by his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Zuma descended to Pietermaritzburg’s Loop Street Police Station to open the case. The charges were that Downer alleged conduct was in breach of sections of the National Prosecuting Authority Act.

During Zuma’s court case last month, his advocate, Dali Mpofu, SC, said: Former president Zuma takes the strongest possible exception to what was done with his confidential information and the way it was treated in this court.

Following Zuma’s action, the National Prosecuting Authority issued a statement noting with concern the charges laid against Advocate Billy Downer.
‘’The NPA is committed to upholding due process and the rule of law and will assess the merits of the charges in an objective manner. We also note that these charges are laid while the matter is subject to judicial determination by the High Court in Pietermaritzburg and judgment is expected to be delivered on 26 October 2021’’.

‘’While the law must be allowed to follow its course, the NPA is concerned about the context within which these charges have been laid, and the timing in light of the pending judgement of the High Court. Advocate Downer SC is a highly respected prosecutor who has carried himself with integrity throughout his career in the NPA’’.

‘’However, we will allow the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu-Natal to deal with the matter as and when she receives the case docket from the police’’.