The Office of the Presidency is still considering whether to cover some of Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial costs after a formal approach for financial aid was made on behalf of the sacked deputy president.

This is contrary to last week’s statement by Zuma lawyer Michael Hulley that an agreement on payment had been reached in January. Hulley said negotiations were continuing in Pretoria and that “we’re still talking to them as regards the mechanics and the precise nature”.

But presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said the matter was under consideration.

“The Presidency wishes to place it on record that whereas deliberations … are still continuing, no commitment as suggested by Mr Hulley has been made either by the Presidency or the Office of the State Attorney. Mr Hulley is aware of the position of the Office of the State Attorney.”

In the past few weeks, there have been persistent media reports that Zuma, who goes on trial for corruption in July, cannot afford to pay his legal costs, particularly those incurred in his rape trial, which has been postponed to March 6.

It was suggested that the request for a postponement by the defence was because his lawyers had not yet been paid.

Hulley denied this, saying: “I think I can say to you quite clearly, without fear of contradiction, that there is no difficulty up to this stage with the question of Mr Zuma’s funding.”

Meanwhile the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust, which is raising money for legal costs in his corruption trial, has appealed for continued support “… as the challenges against the ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma mount”.

So far Zuma’s tribulations have cost the taxpayer slightly more than R1 million, which the State forked out to fund Zuma’s costs relating to the watching brief in the corruption trial of his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

This was paid because although he was not charged, the majority of allegations in that case involved him directly, President Thabo Mbeki told parliament, “and may have involved him in a government capacity”.

With acknowledgement to the Cape Argus and Wendy Jasson Da Costa