In a landmark victory for public accountability, the Pretoria High Court has ordered former President Jacob Zuma to repay nearly R29 million to the South African fiscus, ruling that the state’s funding of his personal legal battles was unlawful.
The ruling, handed down on Wednesday, brings to a head a years-long legal battle pursued by opposition parties. The court found that using public funds to defend Zuma in his personal corruption cases—primarily the long-running Arms Deal saga—violated the Constitution and the principle that no one is above the law.
The judgment is a decisive rebuttal of Zuma’s defense, with the court clearly stating the repayment order applies to him personally. He now has 60 days to settle the debt, which includes interest dating back to October 2021.
Should he fail to pay, the court has activated a powerful recovery mechanism. The State Attorney is mandated to begin asset attachment proceedings, which could potentially target his presidential pension, subject to judicial approval. Furthermore, the State Attorney must provide the court with quarterly progress reports, ensuring relentless pressure until the money is recovered.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which spearheaded the litigation alongside the EFF, hailed the ruling as a “big win for all South Africans.” DA spokesperson Willie Aucamp stated, “It shows you that no one is above the law and that you will not get away with wasting the government’s money.”
This ruling sets a critical precedent, establishing that public funds cannot be used as a personal legal defense fund for officials facing corruption charges, and finally enforcing a financial consequence for the alleged looting of state resources.
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