Afriforum to Obtain Warrants After Zuma Fails to Pay Legal Cost

*Louis Boshoff AfriForum’s Campaigns Officer

By Louis Boshoff
AfriForum Campaign Officer

Almost two years after three courts ordered Jacob Zuma to cover AfriForum’s legal costs, the former president still owes the civil rights organisation more than R500 000.

AfriForum is now taking steps to have warrants issued to seize assets to cover these costs. This is because the latest payment deadline (16 May) was ignored.

These steps follow a ruling by the Constitutional Court in 2023 that found that the granting of medical parole to Zuma was unlawful.

The same case was previously heard before the Pretoria High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal and in both cases costs were awarded to AfriForum.

Almost two years later, AfriForum only received the legal costs for the case that was heard before the Constitutional Court, but not for the cases in the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal.

According to Louis Boshoff, Spokesperson for AfriForum, Zuma’s delay tactics have almost come to an end and the civil rights organisation will soon have proof of payment to show or assets will be seized to cover it.

“It is crucial that these legal costs are paid, because despite all the findings against him, Zuma has gotten away with minimal time behind bars and is now back at the helm of one of the largest political parties in the country.

Whether Zuma is president of the ANC or the MK party, the message remains the same: No politician is above the law.”

Zuma served less than two months in prison in 2021 after refusing to testify before the Zondo Commission.

He was released on medical parole on 16 August 2021, but the granting of his parole was finally ruled as unlawful by the Constitutional Court in July 2023.

However, in October 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa granted Zuma a presidential pardon, which meant that his remaining prison sentence was scrapped.

“Because Zuma has evaded accountability countless times, it would be unacceptable to allow him to get away without paying these legal costs.

AfriForum will therefore go to extremes to ensure that these costs are paid,” explains Boshoff.