Courts seem to have lost patience with the president

It has been a tough 2017 for counsel representing President Jacob Zuma (pictured) as he continued his 2016 losing streak, and each loss has cost him money and executive power.

The president’s legal team folded spectacularly last year over Nkandla, admitting the Public Protectors finding were binding and that then police minister Nkosinathi “Firepool” Nhleko’s contrary report had no legs to stand on.

This year the courts appear to have lost patience with Zuma, ordering him to pay for his legal costs personally and not trouble the taxpayers’ pocket – estimated by the DA to be in the region of R6 million – as well as stripping him of constitutionally important powers due to a conflict of interest.

In a hard-hitting judgment in the North Gauteng High Court, Zuma lost his second run in with the Public Protector when his review application of the PP’s State of Capture report failed, which saw him being stripped of the power to appoint the judge overseeing the commission of inquiry.

In November Zuma’s appointment of Shaun Abrahams as the NPA head was overturned by the same court, reversed former NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana’s resignation and R17 million platinum handshake, and further weakened Zuma’s effectiveness by blocking him from appointing a new head.

Seemingly unwilling to learn, the president has applied for leave to appeal both the judgments on various grounds.

On Friday, the Pretoria High Court ruled Abrahams’ decision to withdraw charges of fraud and perjury for unlawfully authorising racketeering charges against former KZN Hawks boss Johan Booysen and deputy prosecutions boss Nomgcobo Jiba was based on a material error in law.

Abrahams has also had his hands tied by the Constitutional Court which issued a directive he may not yet make any decisions in respect of Zuma’s charges due to the dispute over Abrahams’ appointment.

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