“It is unconscionable, and unacceptable, that the Presidency has agreed to pay for Jacob Zuma’s legal costs for his participation in the Zondo Commission, on top of the costs for his criminal defence that the state already pays,” says DA Leader Mmusi Maimane.
In a media statement on Sunday, Maimane asked how much longer government will make the South African public pay for Jacob Zuma?
Maimane said Ramaphosa should be cutting off this “obscene funding” – which he referred to as “corruption tax on the public” – and should in fact be opposing Zuma’s application for a permanent stay of prosecution.
Maimane said if Ramaphosa is seriously committed to fighting corruption, he “should be using the Zuma case as an opportunity to demonstrate that no one will be above the law in South Africa. He should instruct the state attorney to oppose Zuma’s application for a stay of prosecution. The DA calls on Ramaphosa to do so.”
Regardless of Ramaphosa’s decision, the DA says it’s instructed its lawyers to begin the process of joining the case as an interested party to oppose Zuma’s application.
“Zuma has been running from charges of fraud, money laundering, racketeering and corruption for a decade. Every day justice is postponed is another day justice is denied for almost 60 million South Africans,” he said.
“If Ramaphosa can be so quick to offer to pay back the R500 000 “donation” from corrupt facilities management company, Bosasa, to his ANC Presidency election campaign, he should have no problem in taking a stand against making the people of South Africa keep paying to keep Zuma out of prison,” said Maimane.
He said President Ramaphosa’s decision will serve as a litmus test for the “good” and “bad” ANC myth.