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The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday ordered the former south african chairman jacob juma The State Attorney’s Office must pay 28.9 million rand (about $1.6 million) for legal fees spent over the years, including interest, in his private litigation.
Judge Anthony Miller set a 60-day deadline for Zuma to repay the debt, stipulating that if he defaults the state prosecutor can seize his assets – including his presidential pension benefits.
Zuma, who served as President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, is embroiled in various lawsuits, primarily over allegations of corruption and using public funds to avoid accountability.
While Zuma’s legal fees were initially covered by the state treasury, previous rulings – by the Gauteng High Court in December 2018 and the Supreme Court of Appeal in April 2021 – made it clear that taxpayer money used for his personal representation had to be reimbursed.
Court documents show that interest is owed on approximately 18.9 million rand (about $1 million) from January 25, 2024 until the payment date.
In 2021, Zuma served two months in jail for contempt of court after defying a judicial order to testify in a corruption inquiry during his presidency. Additionally, he faces charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering, tax evasion and money laundering in connection with a multi-billion dollar arms deal signed by the South African government. French arms manufacturer in 1999, when he was an influential politician.
He was expelled by his former African National Congress In 2024 he formed a new political party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP, which contested the country’s national elections.
Hours after the court order was announced, the MKP said in a statement that Zuma would “address the nation” on Thursday, without giving further details.
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AP’s Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa