Zuma evades accountability after Correctional Services Commissioner covers AfriForum’s legal costs

AfriForum has received a payment of more than R280 000 from the National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) for legal costs awarded to AfriForum by the Pretoria High Court in 2021 in a case regarding the unlawful granting of medical parole to Former President Jacob Zuma. Zuma and the DCS were jointly and separately liable for the costs, but the National Commissioner paid the amount in full without Zuma contributing a single cent. AfriForum argues that just as Zuma avoided prison, he also evaded accountability in this case.

AfriForum also received a payment of almost R35 000 from the DCS for costs awarded for the same case that was before the Constitutional Court. However, Zuma and the National Commissioner of the DCS still owe AfriForum a further amount of approximately R170 000 for legal costs incurred in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

According to Louis Boshoff, Campaign Officer at AfriForum, it’s a welcome change that court rulings, such as the payment of legal costs, are complied with, but it remains disappointing that Zuma again did not have to bear the burden of his guilt. “Zuma was found guilty by the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, but he did not spend any significant time behind bars, did not pay a cent in legal costs and is still the leader of the third largest political party in the country.”

Boshoff stresses that AfriForum will continue to press for Zuma to be held accountable for the outstanding legal costs in every case in which the organisation is involved.

Background:

AfriForum and other applicants filed an application in the Pretoria High Court in 2021, arguing that the medical parole granted to Zuma in September 2021 was unlawful. AfriForum won this case with costs. However, Zuma appealed against the finding, but was stalled in the Supreme Court of Appeal, after which he turned to the Constitutional Court. Judgement in this case was delivered in July 2023 after Zuma’s application for leave to appeal against the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling was dismissed. By August of that year, Zuma evaded further prison time after he was granted a presidential pardon.