The Constitutional Court has unanimously dismissed Jacob Zuma’s last attempt to force the removal of prosecutor Billy Downer through a so-called “special plea” process, which the former president contended would entitle him to an acquittal.

This means, conceivably, that Zuma’s long-awaited arms deal case could actually go ahead – unless he brings another legal challenge to block the trial from going ahead.

And that seems likely, as he is currently seeking to privately prosecute Downer and this writer for alleged violations of the National Prosecuting Authority Act in a separate case linked to News24’s publication of court papers containing a sick note from one of the former president’s military doctors.