Former President Jacob Zuma has been ordered by the Pretoria High Court to repay almost R29 million in legal fees that were unlawfully funded by the State. The court found that the money, used to cover Zuma’s personal legal costs in criminal and related cases, violated principles of public accountability and the rule of law.
Court Ruling and Repayment Terms
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, concludes years of litigation led by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), both of which sought to hold Zuma accountable for the misuse of public funds.
Zuma now has 60 days to settle the debt. Should he fail to do so, the State Attorney has been instructed to begin attaching his assets, which could include his presidential pension, pending further judicial oversight. Interest on the debt will accrue from October 2021, and the State Attorney is required to report to the court every three months on the recovery progress.
Legal Defence Dismissed
Zuma’s legal team had argued that he was not personally liable for the repayment, but the High Court dismissed this claim, confirming that the repayment order applies directly to him.
Political Reactions
The Democratic Alliance welcomed the decision, calling it a victory for taxpayers. The party said the outcome demonstrates that no one is above the law and that public money cannot be used to fund personal legal cases.
The R29 million relates to legal fees incurred between 2005 and 2019 during Zuma’s long running arms deal corruption case, which dates back to his time as deputy president.
DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp said the ruling sends a clear message that public officials will be held accountable for the misuse of state funds and that no one will get away with wasting government money.
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