SCA Orders Zuma To Pay Back R15 Million In Legal Fees

THE Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein dismissed Jacob Zuma’s appeal with costs on a punitive scale against a judgment of the Pretoria high court, which held that the state is not liable for the legal costs incurred by him in his personal capacity.

The SCA upheld an earlier High Court judgment that the state must recover at least R15 million from Zuma.

The SCA said in a statement on Tuesday that the fact that Mr Zuma held high office in the executive did not mean that in representing him, the State Attorney was acting ‘on behalf’ of the government.

“In rejecting Mr Zuma’s argument that the State has an interest in ‘protecting a government official’, the SCA held that ‘the government and the public have an interest in protecting the rule of law, ensuring accountability and good governance, all of which is achieved by prosecuting without delay’,” the