The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the Gauteng High Court’s decision ordering former president Jacob Zuma to reimburse nearly R29 million in legal fees paid by the State, describing the judgment as a clear message that “no one is above the law.”
Zuma suffered another legal blow on Wednesday after the court ruled that he must personally bear the costs of his long-running arms deal corruption case.
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The court found that the State Attorney had wrongly settled Zuma’s legal bills, even though the charges were brought against him in his personal capacity.
Zuma had contended that the corruption charges stemmed from his tenure as deputy president, arguing that the State was therefore responsible for funding his defence.
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However, the court dismissed this argument and added that Zuma must also pay the interest that has accumulated on the debt owed to the State.
Jacob Zuma’s Pension Among Assets to Be Recovered
In its ruling, the Gauteng High Court stated that Zuma’s pension is among the assets that can be attached to recover the outstanding R28.9 million in legal fees.
DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp said the outcome underscored what he described as Zuma’s “habit of misusing public funds” during his presidency.
“We look forward to seeing Mr Zuma repay what he owed to South Africa, starting with a first amount of R28.9 million plus interest thereon,” Aucamp stated.
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Zuma to Address Media After Court Defeat
Following the ruling, Zuma is expected to outline his next steps and deliver his official response during an MK Party media briefing scheduled in Durban on Thursday afternoon.
The DA has called on the government to act swiftly in enforcing the court’s order to ensure that the funds are fully recovered.
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