CAPE TOWN, March (ANA) - South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma signed an undertaking to refund the State if he was found to have acted in his personal capacity and own interest in the commission of any offences with which he was charged, President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament on Wednesday.
He said his administration is guided by the fundamental principle that public money should not be used to cover the legal expense of individuals on strictly personal matters and who are found to have committed criminal offences.
Ramaphosa, who was answering questions in parliament, responded to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema who asked what the total amount was that the presidency had spent on the legal costs of Zuma since his election as president in 2009, and on what legal provisions or policy did the state rely when using state resources to fund the former president’s personal legal costs.
“According to information from the department of justice and correctional services, the government has contributed R15,3 million to the personal legal cost of former South Africa president Jacob Zuma since 2006,” said the president.
“Of this amount, approximately R7,5 million was spent on the period between 2006 and the withdrawal of charges against the former president in 2009, and amount of R7,8 million has been spent since 2009.”
Ramaphosa added that the former president had made a request in 2006 for legal representation at state expense in respect of criminal proceedings, and the request was approved by the presidency based on advice by the state attorney’s office and the department of justice and constitutional development as it then was.
- African News Agency (ANA)
