/ 23 August 2006

State still mulling whether to pay for Zuma’s trial

No decision has been made on whether the state will pay cash-strapped former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s legal fees in his Durban High Court battle against fraud and corruption charges.

Replying to a Democratic Alliance (DA) question in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka would go no further than to say the matter is still being looked at.

”The answer is that the matter is currently being negotiated between the office of the state attorney and the legal representatives of the former deputy president [Jacob] Zuma,” she said.

Following up, DA MP Sheila Camerer asked why the Presidency does not view the matter of Zuma’s legal fees as a ”clear case of saying no”. She also wanted to know when the matter will be finalised.

”If the Presidency agrees to pay the legal fees, could the deputy president reassure us that this will not be an open-ended commitment, and [that there is] a requirement that Zuma repay the money should he be found guilty?” Camerer asked.

Responding, Mlambo-Ngcuka simply repeated her reply to the earlier question, adding only that the government is not taking the matter lightly and ”that is why we sought legal advice”.

An attempt to follow up on the matter by African Christian Democratic Party leader Kenneth Meshoe was blocked by Deputy Speaker Gwen Mahlangu.

Meshoe asked if there is a government policy regarding the provision of legal aid ”in a matter such as this” and, should it be decided to provide Zuma with legal aid, whether there exists any precedent that might guide such a decision.

A reply to his query was blocked by Mahlangu, who told Meshoe ”that is a completely new question”, and cautioned Mlambo-Ngcuka not to answer it. — Sapa