Johannesburg: If Cosatu's 1.7 million members each coughed up R3, Jacob Zuma might just be able to pay his legal bills.

The giant labour federation announced yesterday that it would ask its members to give money voluntarily to a defence fund Cosatu was establishing to cover Zuma's legal costs, which could be as high as R5 million.

Explaining this move, Cosatu said it believed the court case against Zuma was political.

Cosatu's general-secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, said: "If he is found guilty, Cosatu will say to the ANC deputy president: 'You have really disappointed us. Face the consequences.'

"We are calling on our members and affiliates to contribute towards his legal fees... We hope to raise enough resources to be able to cover the costs of the case. We call on all our members, we are not forcing anyone, we will ask them to voluntarily contribute towards his defence."

There was no contradiction in Cosatu supporting Zuma, provisionally charged with two counts of corruption, while it vowed to fight corruption, Vavi said.

"The deputy president has the opportunity to face the charges directed at him. The state will present its case and JZ will present his side."

The charges against Zuma arise from Justice Hilary Squires's findings in the trial of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.

Zuma has appointed a senior counsel, Kessie Naidu, who is to be assisted by a junior counsel, Mohammed Patel.

Patel appeared for Zuma in the Durban Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Assuming Naidu's fee for each day in court is R21 000, the top rate for senior counsel at the Durban bar, his junior could charge two thirds of this, or R14 000.

Zuma's instructing attorney, Michael Hulley, could then charge R7 000 for each day of the hearing, or a third of the senior counsel's rate. Zuma would then face a legal bill of R42 000 for each day on which his full defence team is in court.

This excludes Willem Heath's fees. As he is a senior counsel, his contribution in giving Zuma legal advice could add R21 000 a day to Zuma's bill, as well as R7 000 for his independent instructing attorney, bringing to R70 000 the possible amount Zuma would be charged.

Shaik's trial ran for 72 trial days.

Were Zuma's trial to take as long - and legal experts expect it may last much longer - he could face a bill of a shade more than R3m without Heath, and just over R5m if the former judge is in court each day with Naidu's team.

Zuma was charged after he was fired as deputy president, which precludes the state's picking up the tab for his defence.

With acknowledgement to the Cape Times .