Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-10-27 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter: Reporter:

Government Under Fire over Payment of Zuma's Costs

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-10-27

Reporter

Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

While the presidency has set R10 million of taxpayers money aside to help cover Jacob Zuma's legal costs, private fundraising efforts have also been stepped up.

In a statement, the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust said that although the corruption case against Zuma had been struck off the roll, legal costs remained to be paid.

It did not give the amount involved, although in August it said that it would have to raise more than the original estimate of R12m.

Zuma had to retain the services of his legal team for legal processes, such as the appeal against the search and seizure warrants, the statement said.

"The legal team also has to study the forensic report prepared by the state in the event of new charges being brought against Mr Zuma."

There had not been any formal confirmation from the state attorney that the state would contribute to Zuma's defence legal costs or what portion of the costs would be covered, the statement said.

After initial confusion yesterday, government spokesman Themba Maseko confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Zuma's lawyers to pay legal costs "in line with precedent on these kind of matters".

The delay in finalising the matter arose because of protracted negotiations about the extent of the commitment and criteria for payment.

Maseko appeared to be referring to the initial disagreement over an undertaking that the state expected Zuma to sign.

Zuma eventually agreed that if he was found guilty he would pay the legal costs back.

Maseko said that although budget documents tabled in parliament yesterday had been emphatic that R10m would be paid towards the legal costs, this amount was actually a "contingency amount" to cover the risk.

"No payment has been made at this stage as no invoice has been received from the attorneys of the deputy president."

Earlier this week, presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga confirmed that the costs were only for the corruption trial.

Last year the state paid more than R1m towards the costs of Zuma's watching brief at the corruption trial of his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik.

The cost to the taxpayer has been defended in parliament by, among others, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe.

They have argued that the costs of people like Magnus Malan and Wouter Basson had been covered by the democratic state.*1

The DA has accused the government of double standards.

In a statement, DA MP Sheila Camerer said the government was setting an appalling precedent by paying Zuma's legal fees.

"It is shocking that the government has agreed to pay for the defence of someone who is alleged to have carried out their job in a corrupt manner."

Camerer said Zuma was being prosecuted in his personal capacity and it could never be argued that his alleged criminal conduct was undertaken in furtherance of the business of the state.

"This decision also smacks of the most blatant double standards from the ANC government."

With acknowledgements to Angela Quintal and Cape Times.


*1       The classic ANC fallacy of logic - The Straw Man.

However unpalatable was the conduct of these men, who were in any case found not guilty, unquestionably they were acting on behalf of the state.

That was the way of the old political elite.

Mr Zuma, along with Mr Shaik and Mr Thetard, conducted their business after hours late one Friday afternoon (or possibly around 11:00 on Saturday morning) during March 2000 and by means of encoded declarations and encrypted faxes.

Later the fruits of their business was channelled via France, Turkey, Mauritius, Nkobi Finance and Vivian Reddy into a traditional village for Mr Zuma's extended family of some wives and many children, deep in rural Zululand.

That is the way of the new political elite.