Zuma evades justice as state attorney fails to timeously recoup R18.2 million legal bill
28 July 2023
Former President Jacob Zuma appears to be evading justice in more ways than one. It has now emerged that the State Attorney has not yet recovered R18.2 million in taxpayer money spent by Zuma on his corruption trial costs. This is two years after the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the State Attorney to “take all necessary steps, including the institution of civil proceedings, to recover the amounts paid by the State for Mr Zuma’s legal costs”.
The Court further found that allowing officials to resist being held accountable by drawing on state resources to obstruct or delay prosecution is a subversion of the public interest.
For far too long, Zuma has unashamedly used public funds to launch a multitude of failed legal attempts aimed at evading accountability. This has undermined the rule of law and stands in stark contrast to the establishment of the founding value of accountability as enshrined in section 1 of the South African Constitution.
These funds could have been used for the delivery of essential services or the bolstering of an increasingly distressed criminal justice system. Instead, these funds have been used to assist a former ANC-President from evading accountability and answering the corruption charges against him.
It is unacceptable that the State Attorney has failed to issue a summons against Zuma, a year after their initial letter of demand was ignored. This demonstrates a lack of commitment on the part of the state to recoup taxpayer money used to unsuccessfully defend corruption accused ANC leaders. It also demonstrates the total lack of control of the Minister over his portfolio, as he is ultimately responsible for this lack of action.
Ahead of the resumption of Zuma’s corruption trial in August, it is essential that the State Attorney takes urgent and long overdue action to initiate civil recovery litigation against Zuma to recover the R18.2 million in legal fees he owes the state. The DA will be writing to the State Attorney to urge issuing a summons without further delay.
Issued by Glynnis Breytenbach, DA Shadow Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, 28 July 2023
