Former president Jacob Zuma at the Durban High Court on 10 November 2025. Picture: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart Former president Jacob Zuma had a busy Thursday, losing an appeal concerning the repayment of his R28.9 million legal bill. He also challenged a court decision that rejected that his corruption charges should be dropped, and filed a recusal application related to the ongoing Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) commission of inquiry.
Zuma had sought leave to appeal after the Gauteng High Court in Pretoriaruled on 22 Octoberthat he was responsible for paying his own private legal costs. He was ordered to pay R28 960 774.34 plus interest to the State Attorney within 60 days. Should he fail to settle the amount, his presidential pension benefits could be attached.
In his judgment delivered on 4 December, Judge Anthony Millar reprimanded Zuma, highlighting that the courts cannot remain “open indefinitely” for a litigant who refuses to accept a ruling on a specific issue. He further emphasised that accountability must be enforced equally for all citizens. “It is destructive of the notion that all are equal before the law and confirmatory of the view that there is far too much law for those who can afford it and far too little for those who cannot,” the judgment reads.
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Millar, therefore, ruled that there was no prospect of success and no compelling reason for the matter to be reconsidered. “I am not persuaded that another court would come to a different conclusion or that there is some other compelling reason why leave to appeal should be granted.”
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