Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma has launched a public appeal through his foundation soliciting financial help to fund his litany of court cases.
In a message sent out on Tuesday morning by Mzwanele Manyi on behalf of the Jacob Zuma foundation with a call for donations to a Capitec Bank account.
“A humble call for legal fees support for former President Jacob G Zuma. We humbly request for donation support to help cover the legal fees of our patron.”
A similar request was also posted on twitter: “Dear People of South Africa and the world. Please lend a helping hand. We humbly request for donations support to help cover the legal fees of our patron.”
Zuma who is serving a 15-month jail term for contempt of the Constitutional Court is engaged in a litany of litigations and is using a high powered delegation led by Advocate Dali Mpofu SC and Advocate Thabani Masuku SC.
His legal battle includes the ongoing jail term for contempt of court where he is fighting to be released from prison, arguing that he was jailed without trial.
Zuma is fighting to force the National Prosecuting Authority’s Advocate Billy Downer SC not to lead his prosecution as he claims Downer has legally and politically compromised himself.
In another long-running court battle, Zuma is facing 18 charges of corruption, money laundering and fraud at the Pietermaritzburg High Court where the state alleges he had a corrupt role during the multi-billion arms procurement between 1998 and 1999.
Meanwhile, Zuma’s lawyers in preparations for his arms deal corruption trial have written to a number of organisations including the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the ruling ANC requesting financial records that may assist them to mount a credible defence.
Zuma’s legal bill could run into R18.2 million after it was ruled that the State was not obliged to fund him for his corruption trial.