Former president Jacob Zuma’s legal team has told the High Court that he will never be able to repay the R28.9 million in taxpayer funds used for his corruption trial defence, even if his presidential pension were forfeited. The litigation stems from a 2021 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that state funding for Zuma’s legal costs was unlawful, and directed the State Attorney to recover the money. This case continues to highlight tensions between the rule of law, accountability, and the rights of