Court Wants Zuma to Pay Back the Money

By: Zilungile Mkhize

Former President, Jacob Zuma, will have to pay back millions after he failed in his court bid for the state to pay his legal bill for his corruption trial.

He appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) against the High Court in Pretoria’s earlier decision that there was no legal basis for the state to foot the bill, estimated at about R16-million.

Zuma is accused of taking bribes from arms dealers in the 1990s and is due to go on trial on May 17.

In its judgement, the Supreme Court says Zuma’s case relates to actions he undertook in his personal capacity and the state shouldn’t be liable for his legal fees.

The SCA says taxpayers will have to bear the burden if the state is forced to pay the high legal costs of public office bearers charged with crimes.

In a separate matter, the Constitutional Court, is yet to decide whether to jail the former president for defying its order to testify at the state capture commission of inquiry.