William (Billy)John Downer is a retired South African prosecutor, known for his prosecution of high profile government corruption cases.

Background

After Downer graduated from Stellenbosch University he was awarded a

Rhodes Scholarship The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...

to study at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

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, where he obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law degree. He thereafter, joined the South African Department of Justice, the forerunner to the National Prosecuting Authority. In 2021, he retired in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Jacob Zuma prosecution

Despite his retirement, as of 2022, Downer was still prosecuting the former

President of South Africa The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. The president heads the executive branch of the Government of South Africa and is the commander-in-chief of the South African Nationa ...

Jacob Zuma Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (; born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. He is also referred to by his initials JZ and clan name Msholozi, and was a former anti-aparth ...

, on charges of fraud and corruption. The case against the former President relates to a government arms procurement deal, dating back to 1999. In 2005, Downer secured the conviction of Zuma’s financial advisor, Schabir Shaik.The prosecution of Zuma has taken many years with Zuma having been accused of using Stalingrad tactics to evade his day in court. He is now set to go on trial in August 2022. Zuma objected to Downer’s involvement in his case and claimed that the retired prosecutor acted unlawfully by leaking information to the media. Downer has previously been accused of leaking information to journalists to benefit his public image and his cases. Zuma is currently privately prosecuting Downer.

References

External links

Zuma: after 13 years Downer is vindicatedNews24
30 April 2016
Lessons from the fight against corruptionUCT Monday Paper
19 October 2007
How we nailed Shaik

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, 9 June 2005. {{DEFAULTSORT:Downer, Billy Living people South African Rhodes Scholars Stellenbosch University alumni 20th-century South African lawyers 1956 births 21st-century South African lawyers South African prosecutors