Jacob Zuma rescission

Photo by Emmanuel Croset / AFP

Jacob Zuma ‘asking public for cash donations’ to fight his legal battles

The former president of South Africa is now asking citizens to send donations his way – as Jacob Zuma heads into a renewed round of court battles.

Jacob Zuma rescission

Photo by Emmanuel Croset / AFP

The Jacob Zuma Foundation has posted an update on behalf of its patron, revealing that the 79-year-old inmate at Estcourt Prison needs to raise funds for his multiple legal battles – and fast.

A post on the Foundation’s official Twitter page provides banking information, and a short snapshot of why the former president has turned to the public to ease his financial woes. Zuma is due back in court for his corruption trial next month, and he is also seeking to secure a recission application against the Constitutional Court.

Msholozi is no stranger to the courtroom, and that’s putting it mildly. His second term as president was dogged by acts of litigation, many of which resulted in cost orders totalling millions over the years. As he continues to appear in front of various judges, it would appear that the well has run dry – and it’s up to his supporters to find the money.

Jacob Zuma Foundation’s ‘humble request’ to split opinion

What some will see as a chance to support their political hero, others will mark down as a shameless cash-grab. However, the JGZ Foundation is adamant that their request remains ‘above board’, and have called for a helping hand:

“Dear people of South Africa and the world, please lend a helping hand. This is a humble call for legal fees, to support former President Jacob Zuma. We humbly request donations of support to help cover the legal fees of our patron.”

Is Msholozi still in hospital?

Speaking of uBaba and the courts, Jacob Zuma’s medical team missed the deadline to submit a report on his fitness to stand trial earlier this week. The court had given Zuma’s military doctors until Friday, 20 August 2020, to make submissions but his legal team failed to hand over the medical review.

The former president, serving 15 months behind bars for a contempt of court offence, underwent several medical procedures last week and is still receiving care in hospital. He was admitted for an undisclosed medical condition.