Former South African President Jacob Zuma insists he shouldn’t have to repay the R28 million the state spent on his legal fees. He claims that the payments were made under unconstitutional decisions by state attorneys and that he cannot be held responsible for them.
The dispute stems from a 2021 ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal, which found Zuma was not entitled to taxpayer-funded legal aid and ordered him to reimburse the government. However, Zuma’s legal team argues that the ruling was unfair and that the fault lies with the state, not him.
The Presidency maintains that Zuma must settle the amount, saying it’s too late for him to challenge the issue. The court has reserved its judgment on the matter.