Zuma Faces Fresh Legal Setback as Court Orders Him to Repay R28.9 Million – Former President to Address the Nation

Zuma’s Legal Woes Deepen as Court Orders Repayment of R28.9 Million

Former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma is once again in the legal spotlight. On Wednesday, the Gauteng High Court ordered Zuma to personally repay nearly R28.9 million in legal fees, plus interest, funds the state had covered over the years for his defense in the long-running arms deal corruption case.

The decision marks a major setback for Zuma, who had argued that the state should shoulder the costs because the charges stemmed from his time in government. But the court disagreed, ruling that these were personal legal battles, not official matters of state.

Zuma is expected to address the media on Thursday, just a day after the judgment. The briefing is likely to draw significant public attention, not only for what Zuma might say but also for how he will frame the decision in light of his ongoing political ambitions.

The Ruling and Its Implications

According to the judgment, both the Presidency and the State Attorney’s Office had pushed to recover the money after Zuma ignored multiple requests to settle the debt voluntarily.

In their court papers, government lawyers argued that taxpayer funds had been improperly used to finance Zuma’s private defense in various corruption and fraud cases. The High Court agreed, declaring that Zuma was personally liable for the costs and must repay the amount in full.

For Zuma, this decision is more than just financial, it’s symbolic. It reinforces a pattern of legal defeats that have dogged him since leaving office in 2018, from his criminal trials to Constitutional Court rulings rejecting his party’s challenges against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Zuma vs Ramaphosa: A Political Power Struggle

This ruling comes on the heels of another major loss for Zuma earlier this month. On 3 October, the Constitutional Court dismissed an urgent application brought by the MK Party and Zuma against President Ramaphosa.

The MK Party had sought to overturn Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and to appoint Firoz Cachalia as acting minister while establishing a new commission of inquiry.

Justice Rammaka Steven Mathopo, who penned the unanimous judgment, said the application was procedurally flawed and lacked substance. The Court noted that Zuma and his party had failed to approach the High Court before taking the matter directly to the Constitutional Court a move seen as politically charged rather than legally sound.

The ruling underlined a growing pattern in which Zuma’s attempts to use the courts to advance political battles have repeatedly backfired.

A Familiar Story: Legal Troubles Meet Political Theatre

For many South Africans, this latest court decision is a reminder of the decade-long saga surrounding Zuma’s legal costs. The R28.9 million figure represents years of taxpayer-funded legal representation that critics have long argued should never have been covered by the state.

Social media reactions have been swift, with users split between those who see the judgment as long-overdue accountability and those who believe Zuma is being targeted for political reasons.

On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:

“It’s about time Zuma pays back the money. Public funds are not his personal wallet.”

Another countered:

“The state used him for years, now they want to throw him under the bus. Typical politics.”

Whatever side of the debate one falls on, Zuma’s next move will be telling. His scheduled press briefing could become a stage for political theatre, part defiance, part strategy as the MK Party gears up for upcoming elections and seeks to position itself as the voice of “the people” against the establishment.

The question now is how Zuma will raise nearly R30 million and whether his legal battles will continue to drain both his resources and political capital.

With the MK Party facing its own challenges after several court defeats, Zuma’s speech could either signal a renewed fight or a recalibration of strategy.

One thing is certain: in the court of public opinion, Zuma remains one of South Africa’s most polarizing figures, a man whose legal and political journeys are far from over.

{Source: The Citizen}

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