Jacob Zuma privately prosecuted attorney Billy Downer and News24 legal journalist Karyn Maughan for leaking his medical data in September 2021. Qaanitah Hunter believes Zuma has recently proved he would stop at nothing for his narrow, selfish goals. In July 2021, Zuma and his followers were allegedly the masterminds behind the riots and looting that killed more than 350 people in Johannesburg and Kwazulu-Natal. Any analysis of the July unrest shows that it was not a huge uprising in favour of Zuma, as he and his children anticipated. (News24, for subscribers)
Downer and Maughan being in the dock has fulfilled Zuma’s wildest dreams
Ton Eaton pens that Jacob Zuma is using the state advocate and journalist as two more pawns to try to get South Africans to stop paying attention to the corruption charges against him. The private prosecution does not offer any comfort to Maughan and her media colleagues, many of whom saw this dishonest effort to divert attention away from Zuma’s corruption trial as a blatant assault on journalistic freedom. (TimesLIVE, for subscribers)
Zuma’s bid to send journalist to gulag is a fool’s errand and political charade
On Monday, former president Jacob Zuma appeared in Pietermaritzburg’s high court. He was jovial despite disliking courtrooms. BusinessLIVE reports that Zuma’s day started with cheerleaders and finished with a small crowd. Dali Mpofu, who was defending Busisiwe Mkhwebane, was one of his supporters. Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla stated after court, “president Zuma is back like he never left” and uploaded a video of him dancing to umshini wami. (BusinessLIVE)
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
Can the principles of project finance save Eskom? – BusinessLIVE
The shamelessness of not paying a cent for water and electricity – TimesLIVE (for subscribers)
A welcome goodbye to anti-intellectualism, populism that dominated JSC hearings – News24 (for subscribers)
Why labour-related risks at Transnet matter for SA agricultural and food trade – BusinessLIVE
SA had a shot at electoral reform. But turkeys don’t vote for Christmas – News24 (for subscribers)
The art of avoiding the issue of Parliament’s mouldy old treasures – Daily Maverick
Image credit: Gallo Images
