Jacob Zuma Still Owes R28.9 Million in Legal Costs

Statement by Ashor Sarupen MP – Chairperson of the DA Federal Council:

The Democratic Alliance has filed papers in the Constitutional Court opposing Jacob Zuma’s latest attempt to avoid repaying the nearly R29 million he owes the State for his personal legal costs.

Mr Zuma is seeking leave to appeal after both the High Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal refused him leave. His application has no reasonable prospects of success and raises no genuine constitutional issue.

This matter has already been decided.

In 2018, a unanimous Full Bench of the High Court found that Mr Zuma was liable to repay the amounts the State had paid on his behalf towards his personal legal costs in his criminal prosecution and related litigation. That judgment was upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal in 2021.

Mr Zuma is now trying to reopen a question that the courts have already settled. He is not entitled to do so.

The only issue that remained was for the State Attorney to quantify the amount owed and to then recover the money. After a considerable delay, the State Attorney produced an accounting of the amounts paid, totalling R28,960,774.34. The High Court then ordered Mr Zuma to repay this amount, with interest.

This case is about a simple principle: public money must be used for the public, not to fund the private legal battles of powerful politicians.

No person, including a former President, is above the law. Mr Zuma received an unlawful benefit from the State. He must pay it back.

For years, South Africans have watched Mr Zuma use litigation to delay accountability. The DA will not allow this matter to be dragged out indefinitely while taxpayers are left to carry the cost.

The DA has asked the Constitutional Court to dismiss Mr Zuma’s application for leave to appeal, with costs.