Former president Jacob Zuma will hear on Thursday whether he will have to foot the bill for his graft case. The High Court in Pretoria will hand down judgment in the application brought by the DA to have the agreement authorising state funding of Zuma’s defence in criminal cases set aside. Earlier in 2018, Zuma pleaded poverty. In March Michael Hulley, who has since been fired as Zuma’s lawyer, said without state funding, the former president would not have the means to defend himself in court. This was despite Zuma receiving a lifelong salary as a former head of state. Since then Zuma has replaced his entire legal team. In the agreement Zuma signed with the presidency, he will pay back the money if he is convicted. So far, the state has paid between R15m and R32m in legal costs for Zuma, and it has said it will continue to fund his defence until the 2008 agreement is reviewed and set aside by a court. Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering ste...

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