The government has already paid about R8 million in taxpayers' money to cover ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma's legal costs, the Sowetan newspaper reported yesterday.

The money was paid to Zuma's lawyer Michael Hulley and other senior counsel acting in the fraud and corruption case against the country's former deputy president.

It is part of the R10.67m set aside in President Thabo Mbeki's budget in October last year and carried over to this year's budget.

The Sowetan reported that an official in the State Attorney's office confirmed that about three-quarters of the total budget was paid to Zuma's lawyers last week. 

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.