A senior state prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer, told the Pietermaritzburg High Court
on Tuesday 04 February 2020, that the State was seeking a warrant of arrest for former
president Jacob Zuma.
Downer made the request, because Zuma had neither submitted a medical certificate, nor
let the State know what the alleged illness was, that kept him from proceedings on Tuesday.
Downer said the State had been made aware of the former president’s absence from Tuesday’s
hearing in good time, but follow-up correspondence to his lawyer, Daniel Mantsha, regarding a
medical certificate, and the nature of Zuma’s illness had received no response.
Downer said the warrant could be issued, but the actual arrest left pending until the court
had undertaken an investigation into Zuma’s absence.
“Zuma’s absence is disappointing.
We want Mr Mantsha to tell us what the illness is, and why Zuma can’t be here.
It is a criminal offence for the accused not to be present if he has been warned in court.
The court would have to enquire into reasons for his absence,” said Downer.
He asked that the warrant be issued at the end of Tuesday’s proceedings.
Downer also said that if Zuma chose to speak of his illness in closed proceedings, the
State would not object.
Mantsha countered, that Zuma's illness was a matter of "state security", and the purvey
of military doctors.
Zuma was also not able to appear before a sitting of the commission of inquiry into
state capture last year, because of illness.
He has been seeking treatment outside the country.
The matter continues.
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