President Jacob Zuma’s legal bill to prevent the release of the public protector’s report on state capture may cost in excess of R3 million.<\/p>\n
This is according to IOL<\/a>, citing a senior advocate who was part of the proceedings.<\/p>\n On Wednesday Zuma\u2019s legal representative advocate Anthea Platt told the full bench of judges at the North Gauteng High Court that she was instructed to withdraw the application and tender costs.<\/p>\n The Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Congress of the People and United Democratic movement called on the president to be held personally liable for all legal costs.<\/p>\n Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Dunstan Mlambo, reserved his judgment and called for the parties to make submissions in that regard.<\/p>\n According to IOL, Zuma’s legal team has already been ordered to pay punitive costs, however, it has not been decided who will foot the bill.<\/p>\n Citing a reply by the minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, to a parliamentary question, the DA said on Thursday that the State also spent R4 million on litigation involving the non-security upgrades to president Zuma\u2019s private homestead in Nkandla.<\/p>\n “It is a double blow to South Africa that president Zuma not only appropriated public money to build Nkandla, but that millions have been used to defend him and his proclivity to dip into state funds for his own personal use,” said James Selfe, chairperson of the DA’s Federal Executive.<\/p>\n The DA stated at the end of last month that in addition to an already budgeted R5.327 million for legal fees over the 2016-2019 medium term, the president was handed a further R2.1 million for\u00a0\u201cunforeseen increased legal costs.\u201d<\/p>\n This puts the total cost allocated over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) now at R7.427 million, the political party said.<\/p>\n In 2013, the Department of Justice admitted that general rates for senior counsel for the president ranged from R24,000 to R36,000 a day.\u00a0 <\/span> Citing the Presidency Budget\u00a0– and excluding the use of funds from alternative budgets in the process\u00a0– the DA noted that the presidency has spent more than R43 million on legal fees since Jacob Zuma came to office.<\/p>\n Former ANC secretary general\u00a0Cheryl Carolus said in June<\/a> that adding up Zuma\u2019s legal costs over the past decade, would exceed a billion rand.<\/p>\n Zuma to consider Public Protector report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\nRead this: How the \u2018wheels are coming off\u2019 South Africa under Zuma<\/a><\/h3>\n
More on Zuma<\/h3>\n