The State Attorney, acting on the instructions of the Presidency, has today, 22 March 2018, responded to a request by lawyers representing the Democratic Alliance (DA) for information on the provision of legal representation to former President Jacob Zuma at state expense.

1. Presidencyrespondsto Democratic Alliance enquiryon former PresidentZuma’slegal fees
22 March 2018
Pretoria– The State Attorney,actingonthe instructionsof the Presidency,hastoday,22 March
2018, respondedtoarequestbylawyersrepresentingthe DemocraticAlliance (DA) forinformation
on the provisionof legal representationtoformerPresident JacobZumaat state expense.
In a lettertothe DA’slawyers,the State Attorneyadvised,amongotherthings,that:
- The decisiontoprovide legal representationtoMr Zuma at state expensewastakeninaccordance
withsection3(1) of the State Attorney Act56 of 1957.
- Thisdecisionwastakenbythe Presidencyin2006. AfterreceivingarequestfromMr Zuma for
legal representation,the Presidencysoughtadvice fromthe Ministerof Justice andthe State
Attorney.The decisionwasbasedonadvice fromthe thenChief State Law Advisor,Director-General
inthe Departmentof Justice,the Ministerof Justice andthe State Attorney,whoall recommended
the provisionof legal representationatstate expense undersection3of the State AttorneyAct.
- The decisionwassubjecttothe undertakingbyformerPresidentZumatorefundthe legal costs
incurredbythe State inthe eventthathis defence wasunsuccessful.
- While ithas notbeenpossible tolocate awrittenagreementbetweenthe PresidencyandMr
Zuma inthisrespect,the Presidencydoeshave copiesof undertakingssignedbyMrZuma on 22
August2006 and 26 September2008.
- Due to the fact that the Presidentswhocame afterthe undertakingwassignedare the successor
intitle inthe President’soffice,theyassume the obligationcreatedinthe undertaking.The
Presidencyistherefore boundbythatdecisionandmustcontinue payingforMr Zuma’slegal feeson
the basisthat it undertooktodoso until suchtime as the decisionisreviewedandsetaside bya
court.
The Presidencywishestoreiterate the statementbyPresidentCyril Ramaphosainthe National
Assemblylastweekthatthisadministrationisguidedbythe fundamental principle thatpublic
moneyshouldnotbe usedtocover the legal expenses of individualsonstrictlypersonal mattersor
whoare foundto have committedcriminal offences.
Issued by: The Presidency