State legal aid: Cyril tells of Zuma’s undertaking
FORMER president Jacob Zuma had 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 yesterday.
The new president said his administration is guided by the fundamental principle that public money should not be used to cover the legal expenses of individuals on strictly personal matters and who are found to have committed criminal offences.
Ramaphosa, who was answering questions in Parliament, was responding to 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 had the state relied when using state resources to fund Zuma’s personal legal costs.
“According to… the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, government has contributed R15.3 million to the personal legal costs of former president Jacob Zuma since 2006. Of this amount, approximately R7.5m was spent on the period between 2006 and the withdrawal of charges against the former president in 2009. An amount of R7.8m has been spent since 2009,” Ramaphosa said.
He called on sceptical opposition parties and the country’s “scared” citizens to stop making a noise and rather contribute to the debate on land expropriation without compensation.
“Rather than be scared, hide your head in the sand, run away and say the ‘swart gevaar is coming’, I say come to the party; let us discuss and find a solution,” Ramaphosa said. “I invite all those who are angry, all those who are anxious… some who are excited, those who are inspired to be part of a finding of a solution on this issue.
“Throughout the process, we need to work together, guided by the needs of the poor who are landless.”
Ramaphosa was responding to a question from DA leader Mmusi Maimane.