President Jacob Zuma. (AFP)
The state's spending of R8.8-million on attorneys representing President Jacob Zuma over the past four years is a blatant act of discrimination, Congress of the People (Cope) said on Wednesday.
This affirmed Cope's position that Zuma made no distinction between the money of the state and his own, spokesperson Johann Abrie said in a statement.
"As early as 2008, the Congress of the People warned South Africans that Zuma is a compulsive spender, unable to live within his means, and his understanding of the perks of his position is access to unlimited cash," he said.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question tabled on Wednesday, Radebe said the law firm Hulley & Associates received R7 945 971 in 2009/10, R570 068 in 2010/11, and R327 890 in 2012/13.
The cases involved included those relating to the multibillion-rand arms deal and the so-called spy tapes matter.
The question was posed by Democratic Alliance MP Debbie Schafer.
In a statement on Wednesday, she said the party intended submitting follow-up questions on the amount paid.
'It is shameful'
This was in an effort to clarify what portion of the R8.8-million was paid in fees to Zuma's private lawyer Michael Hulley.
Abrie said: "It is shameful that the president's private attorney is raking in tax money unconstrained, while millions of South Africans, including the victims of Marikana, are denied the right to proper legal representation."
The full-time employment of Hulley was unacceptable, unfair and should be condemned by all South Africans, he said. – Sapa