HICGI News Agency – Updated at 15:00 on Tuesday 24th Aug 2021

PRETORIA- South Africa’s ex-president wants “a helping hand” – and gives out his account number

Jacob Zuma’s foundation on Tuesday appealed for public donations to assist him cover his legal costs.

Zuma, who is currently facing a number of legal challenges, was in April dealt a heavy blow when the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he should pay the legal fees for his arms deal corruption trial from his own pocket instead of the government footing the legal bill.

In a pamphlet posted on the JG Zuma Foundation twitter account, the foundation made a call to citizens to assist Zuma cover his legal costs

“We humbly request for donations support to help cover the legal fees of our patron,” the foundation said.

Zuma, whose arms deal trial has been placed on hold pending the outcome of his medical examination, is currently serving a 15 month sentence for defying a Constitutional Court order to appear before the Zondo Commission investigating corruption and state capture.

At the beginning of August the Correctional Services Department announced that Zuma had been transferred from the Estcourt Prison to a hospital outside the correctional services center after concerns over his state of health.

The foundation requested those willing to make donations to make deposits into a Capitec bank account.

Zuma recently also underwent unspecified surgery with several operations, prison authorities said.

Zuma, serving a 15-month sentence in Estcourt prison for contempt of court, was sent to a hospital outside for observation on August 6, days before the start of a corruption trial he has thus far avoided.

“Mr Zuma underwent a surgical procedure on Saturday, 14 August 2021, with other procedures scheduled for the coming days,” prison spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo said in a statement.

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