Zuma won’t pay his own legal fees

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma will not pay legal fees associated with the DA’s corruption charges against him from his own pocket.

Zuma was asked during a question session in parliament whether he would pay the fees.

He responded that “when such allegations are about what happened when people were at work or they were employed‚ they don’t pay from their own pockets‚ they don’t”. Zuma said the fees were not of his making. “It’s not because of me. I’m not responsible for that – I’ve never taken myself to court‚” the president said.

Zuma told the National Council of Provinces he was taking legal advice on the charges. Responding to questions about his cabinet reshuffles, Zuma said they were his prerogative and anyone who wanted to know the process should win elections themselves.

He was asked by DA member Johan Londt about his decision to remove Pravin Gordhan.

Zuma said the constitution allowed him to appoint and remove members of cabinet.

In a supplementary question‚ Londt asked whether‚ in his next cabinet reshuffle‚ he had appointed David Mahlobo as energy minister to rush through a nuclear deal.

Zuma said the changing of a minister was the prerogative of the president and the reasons were not necessarily to be known by people.

“If you want to know‚ win elections and have a government,” he said.