The Gauteng High Court’s order compelling former president Jacob Zuma to repay more than R28.9 million in legal fees to the State Attorney marks another significant turn in his long and costly legal saga.
The court has given him 60 days to pay, a steep demand for a man now in his eighties,whose financial and political fortunes appear increasingly fragile.
Zuma’s legal battles are well documented. From drawn-out corruption allegations to his dramatic jailing for contempt of court brought by the chairperson of the Zondo Commission, he has spent years navigating South Africa’s judicial system.
His imprisonment in July 2021 triggered the worst unrest in democratic South Africa’s history, leaving more than 350 people dead and devastating businesses that never reopened.
It is therefore reasonable to ask whether this latest ruling could again inflame tensions among his supporters. The answer depends largely on how the state handles the matter. The July 2021 unrest was not caused by Zuma’s incarceration alone but by a volatile mix of political opportunism, inequality, high unemployment, criminal exploitation and unresolved racial tensions that escalated to murders.
While he still commands loyalty in parts of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng, a civil enforcement order, even one as symbolically charged as this, is unlikely to spark unrest on the same scale.
Still, perception matters. If enforcement is seen as vindictive, it could easily be used to revive old grievances. The state’s approach, and its communication around the process, will therefore be crucial.
Beyond the politics, the ruling, nonetheless, affirms an important principle of ministers, presidents, and public officials bearing their own legal costs when litigation arises from personal conduct rather than official duties.
For Zuma's detractors still in office, the ruling must not be interpreted as merely a Zuma problem; it sets a precedent.
Taxpayers cannot be expected to fund private legal battles of politicians in Cabinet and even presidents.
Whether this becomes another flashpoint or simply another chapter in Zuma’s legal struggles will depend on how responsibly the moment is managed politically and legally by all parties involved.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE