Zuma appeals ruling that expects him to pay legal fees worth millions from his pocket

Former SA president Jacob Zuma has appealed a court ruling that declared he must pay legal costs running into millions from his personal account.

On Friday, Zuma argued in papers filed before the Supreme Court of Appeal that the fraud and corruption charges levelled against him were fostered by political vengeance and spite.

The personal costs order estimated R10m given to him by the Gauteng High Court, in December 2018 came after he failed to review then public protector Thuli Madonsela’s “state of Capture” report.

The charges he is facing is related to his relationship with his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.

Shaik was convicted of keeping Zuma on a corrupt retainer.

In return, Zuma allegedly used his influence to aid Shaik’s interests.

The report led the deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo to inquire into the state capture.

In 2018, Zuma was stopped from receiving state funding for his corruption trial defence.

The court ordered the state attorney to recover all taxpayers’ money spent on his defence.

Deputy judge president Aubrey Ledwaba ruled that Zuma, “like all other accused persons in SA is thus entitled to be represented by a legal practitioner using his own resources, or those offered by the Legal Aid Board”.

Zuma is expected to appear before the state capture inquiry in September to answer questions about his alleged role in looting and corruption during his presidential tenure.