The fees relate to Zuma’s long-running arms deal corruption case, for which the state had initially funded his legal defence. However, in 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Zuma was not entitled to state funding for his criminal proceedings.
Following an application by the State Attorney for a repayment order, the court has now directed Zuma to return the funds within 60 days. Failure to do so may result in the state attaching his pension and assets to recover the amount.
Speaking at a media briefing in Durban, in the country’s KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma said he was out of the country when the ruling was delivered and would rely on legal advice to determine his next steps.
“When the matter was discussed, I was not here. I am going to meet with my lawyers to say, where do we take the matter? So I can’t answer because I was not there. That matter will be handled, you will get to know in due time what our approach is,” Zuma said.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
