The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg has set aside former President Jacob Zuma's private prosecution against State prosecutor advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan with costs. Zuma's alleged that Downer had leaked his medical records to Maughan. He also accused Downer of violating the National Prosecuting Act. The pair denied the accusation arguing that the medical records were placed on the public court records.

In the judgment on Wednesday morning, KwaZulu Natal High Court Judges Gregory Kruger, Jacqui Henriques and Thokozile Masipa said, "The respondent is interdicted and restrained from re-instituting proceeding with, or from taking any further steps pursuant to, the private prosecution. The costs of this application are to be paid by the respondent on an attorney and own-clients scale, such costs to include the costs of two counsel where employed,". 

In September 2022, Zuma served Downer and Maughan with a summons after launching a private investigation against them. Zuma opened charges against Downer at a police station in Pietermaritzburg, but the head of NPA in KZN, Advocate Elaine Zungu declined to prosecute. Zuma had also tried to have Downer recused as lead prosecutor in his arms deal case, which is currently in court but Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen dismissed his application. He went to the Supreme Court of Appeal, which also threw his application out the window. At the time, NPA said the charges were baseless and without merit and that they were designed to intimidate Downer. Downer is leading the prosecution team in Zuma's arms deal trial.

In a short statement after the judgment, the JG Zuma Foundation said the former president will appeal the 'bizarre' judgment. In a tweet, Maughan said: "We won, with costs." She also went on to thank her employer for standing with her throughout the case. "I am so grateful to the brilliant Budlenders for their representation of Adv Billy Downer and me. And thank you to all the people who have supported us," she wrote.