R10m legal bill blow for JZ

FORMER president Jacob Zuma’s legal woes mounted yesterday when his successor Cyril Ramaphosa pulled the plug on the state paying for his challenge to the public protector’s state capture report.

Zuma was ordered by the full bench of the high court in Pretoria to pay legal costs for his challenge to former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s state capture report from his own pocket.

Yesterday, it was revealed that Ramaphosa’s lawyers said he would not appeal the cost order against Zuma, and if Zuma wanted to, he had to pay his own way.

It is estimated the costs are in the region of R10 million.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko could not be reached for comment.

This was a blow to Zuma, who is facing multiple legal challenges in the next few months.

Apart from his criminal trial, Zuma is expected to be called to testify at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into state capture.

The commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, begins its work in the next few months.

Zuma had challenged Madonsela’s report in October last year, which caused a delay in the release of the report.

This also followed complaints by Madonsela that Zuma had taken 18 months to respond to her written questions over allegations of state capture.