Zuma Not Off the Hook and Has to Cough Up Over R16 Million in Legal Fees
- The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma appeal to set aside the judgement which compels him to pay back his legal fees to the state
- Zuma now owes over R16 million in legal fees relating to his corruption case which the court ordered him to repay in 2018
- Zuma is set to appear in court in May when his corruption trial resumes
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Former president Jacob Zuma's troubles have multiplied. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ruled that he must repay an estimated R16 million in legal fees.
The court dismissed his appeal dating back to the 2018 ruling that the former president must pay back his personal legal fees relating to his corruption case.
The court ruled that the decision to pay Zuma's legal fees was ‘unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid’ according to eNCA.
Source: Getty Images
The total amount owed by Zuma comes up to an estimated R16.78 million. The SCA ruled in its scathing judgement that Zuma's costs must also take into account his allegations that the court had not acted impartially according to the Daily Maverick.
Zuma faces charges of one count of racketeering, two counts of corruption, one count of money laundering and 12 counts of fraud. His case has dragged out over the years but is set to resume in May.
Earlier, Briefly News reported that former president Jacob Zuma has released an eight-page statement on his response to the Constitutional Court case against him tabled by the State Capture Inquiry. Zuma said he will even serve a prison sentence if the ConCourt decides so.
Zuma said the ConCourt will not be spared "rigorous questions" when people "gain their voices". The former president believes that many SA judges can not "bring an open mind" to cases specifically involving him.
On page three of the statement, Zuma goes on to say that the State Capture Commission encroached on his constitutional rights by bringing the ConCourt into the matter.
In other news, the Zondo Commission wants Zuma punished rather than appearing before it. Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi made an application in the Constitutional Court on behalf of the Zondo Commission against former president Jacob Zuma.
Ngcukaitobi said that Msholozi was attempting to avoid accountability on serious allegations. Ngcukaitobi revealed that the Commission wants Zuma to be punished for disobeying the Constitutional Court adding that this was more important than the former president appearing before the Commission.
The Constitutional Court heard Ngcukaitobi's application on Thursday, 25 March.
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Source: Briefly News
