Jacob Zuma may be asked to pay back the money

Dennis TAugust 16, 2018

75 1 minute read

The Presidency says the government has paid a total of R16.7-million for Zuma’s legal fees‚ but it is likely that this amount will be disputed.

The Presidency has hinted that it may seek a legal fees refund from former president Jacob Zuma – depending on the outcome of a court challenge to state funding of his corruption trial defence.

It has also admitted that large amounts of documentation linked to the state’s multimillion-rand funding of Zuma’s legal fees are missing‚ or have been destroyed “due to their age”.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is not opposing court bids by the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters to stop the continued state funding of Zuma’s corruption trial defence‚ which Zuma insists he is constitutionally entitled to.

Zuma’s lawyer‚ Daniel Mantsha‚ says this is because he stands accused of abusing his public office to commit corruption‚ and this means the charges against him are linked to his position in government.

Director-General in the Presidency Reginald Lubisi states in an explanatory affidavit filed on Tuesday that this funding was given to Zuma according to the provisions of the State Attorneys Act.

Source: Sowetan Live