Cape Town – The Pretoria High Court has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to repay R28.9 million, plus interest, to the state for legal fees advanced in his personal capacity, relating to his criminal prosecution and related litigation, including the long-running 1999 arms deal corruption case.
The judgment enforces earlier rulings: a 2018 full bench decision declared the state was not liable for Zuma’s legal costs, and the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in 2021.
Initially, the state demanded R18.2 million, later discovering an additional R10.7 million, bringing the total to R28.9 million, with interest calculated from the respective demand dates.
The Pretoria High Court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma must pay back the more than R28.9 million of taxpayers funds to the State Attorney for the millions spent on his private defence over several years.
The court says should Zuma fail to comply within 60 days… pic.twitter.com/mXkZqto1fD
— CapricornFM News (@CapricornFMNews) October 22, 2025
If Zuma fails to pay within 60 days, the state may issue a writ of execution to seize his assets, including part of his presidential pension.
Judge Anthony Millar emphasised that both the full court and the SCA clearly intended the repayment to be Zuma’s personal responsibility.
Former President Jacob Zuma has been ordered to pay back R28.9 million spent by the state on his personal legal fees related to the 1990’s Arms Deal. The Gauteng High Court division in Pretoria ordered the former president to pay money accumulated over 20 years, including… pic.twitter.com/z1C3yv8DuF
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 22, 2025
According to The Citizen, the Jacob Zuma Foundation said it is awaiting a briefing from the former president’s lawyers before commenting.
“The JG Zuma Foundation will await briefing by the lawyers before making any comments on the judgment,” the foundation’s spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
