Zuma’s dirty money wont help

Opposition, analysts welcome news that former president must pay for his own legal costs

SHAUN SMILLIE and SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI

FORMER president Jacob Zuma is alleged to have made millions of rand from state capture, but this wealth might not help him now that he has to foot the bill for his own legal costs.

The High Court in Pretoria yesterday ruled that Zuma had to personally pay the court costs of his failed legal review of former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s directive instructing that a judicial commission of inquiry be appointed to probe state capture.

The decision was welcomed by opposition parties, who said it set a precedent not only for the embattled former president, but also other politicians who use frivolous legal challenges for their own gains.

For Zuma, the ruling could see the end of his infamous “Stalingrad” defence, where he has used taxpayer money to impede the various court battles he has been involved in.

“Now that there is the possibility of individuals paying their own costs, it is going to affect many leaders who saw this as a way of keeping justice at