Former President Jacob Zuma is seeking to overturn a court ruling that compels him to repay R28 million in state-funded legal fees.
Zuma’s legal team argues that the costs should not be recovered from him personally but rather from the government officials and lawyers who authorised or handled the payments.
The appeal comes after years of litigation over the state’s funding of Zuma’s numerous court battles, many of which stem from corruption and fraud allegations dating back to his presidency. His lawyers maintain that the former president acted within his rights and that responsibility for the expenditure lies elsewhere.
Political analyst Sanet Solomon told VOC News that Zuma’s legal strategy is consistent with his previous court battles.
“I think that one of the key things that has always happened with Zuma’s court cases has been the appeals,” said Solomon.
“He generally tends to kick the ball down the road as far as possible, trying to find alternative ways out of it.”
She added that the appeal could be a sign of financial strain. “It could possibly be that the former president doesn’t want to pay this amount. But what is particularly dangerous about this instance is that they can attach his assets. So, I think he’s possibly quite desperate,” she said.
The court’s decision on Zuma’s appeal will determine whether he remains liable to repay the R28 million or if the responsibility shifts elsewhere.
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