Friends of the Jacob Zuma Trust Fund could spread their fundraising campaign for the former deputy president from South Africa to Europe and the USA in the next few weeks.

Chairman of the fund, Don Mkhwanazi, said they were waiting for the approval of their R2m plan from the rest of the fund’s members. The fund hoped to launch the plan before Zuma’s next court appearance on November 12.

"A number of people from America and Europe are asking how they can assist. Some are South African people working overseas, some are those who worked with Zuma in exile and never came back, some are charitable trusts. Zuma is very well connected, he has many friends but many enemies too. We want to see how deep is that support,” said Mkhwanazi.

An estimated R12 million was needed to foot Zuma’s legal costs for his trial scheduled to start on July 31.

"Senior counsel costs vary from R15,000 per day to R30,000 per day. Our calculations are based on 78 days spent in court... which is about four months. That figure is also based on Schabir’s trial and other considerations too," said Mkhwanazi.

The money would also cover out of court costs such as accommodation for Zuma in Durban while the trial was underway, research done by the legal team, their preparations, and consultations with witnesses.

So far Zuma had six members in his legal team led by senior advocate Kessie Naidu and four of those were senior counsel.

The trust would issue a quarterly financial statement to the public and the first one was scheduled for release on November 16.

"Our focus is on raising money. The overwhelming support that Msholozi (Zuma) received we need to translate into cash." Mkhwanazi was worried that many people who approached him to offer financial assistance wanted their identities protected. "If you believe in a cause, you believe in a cause."

He saw no reason why the trust could not reach its target. "We are doing very well in terms of pledges and we have given many people our account number." Zuma will be served with a indictment by the state on November 12 when he is also scheduled to appear again in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

He was initially charged with two counts of corruption after his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik was convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on fraud and corruption charges linked to Zuma.

Zuma was sacked by President Thabo Mbeki after Judge Hilary Squires ruled that he and Shaik had a generally corrupt relationship.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Business Day.