There’s a rumble in Jacob Zuma’s legal jungle.

As Zuma prepares to make representations to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on why it should drop charges against him, a secret scuffle between his legal advisers *1 broke out this week.

Accounts of what was described as a “mix-up”, a “fuck-up” and a “brawl”, differ depending on the source. The M&G spoke to a range of legal sources close to the case.

The row erupted after Zuma allegedly consulted a different legal team from the one that has represented him for years to make submissions to the NPA. The Mail & Guardian was told Zuma’s trusted attorney Michael Hulley “freaked out” when told about Zuma’s discussions with the Johannesburg combination of lawyer Ian Small-Smith *2 and senior counsel Mike Hellens.

Small-Smith represented the three men believed to be Brett Kebble’s assassins.

Hellens last year successfully defended Ranch owner Andrew Phillips on charges of owning a brothel and employing foreign prostitutes.

It seems they will not be representing South Africa’s president-in-waiting any time soon. The M&G’s source said Hulley, who has Zuma’s brief, “fired” them after hearing of their involvement, and SC Kemp J Kemp will represent Zuma at the NPA talks.

Hulley strongly denied screaming-matches with Hellens, saying that it was not the first time he [Hellens] had helped the Zuma team. “The fact is that there was a bit of confusion about Small - Smith’s role, but we sorted it out. There was never any confrontation between me and anyone.”

Hulley said Small-Smith and Hellens “would continue to play a role” which had to be clarified.

Hulley did not know “who brought them to Mr Zuma”, saying he is never short of input from lawyers.

Small-Smith said: “I cannot comment, but what I can say is that I have no mandate from Zuma.” He would not say whether he previously had, or thought he had, one. A legal source said Small-Smith would not try to oust Hulley as the latter has given “his life and his time and all that he has to Zuma”.

“I’m a professional. I don’t talk about cases I’m involved in unless I’m in court. You can print that,” said Hellens.

With acknowledgements to Adriaan Basson, Stefaans Brümmer and Mail and Guardian.