{
  "id": 20203378,
  "title": "ConCourt rules against Zuma, but he wants officials held accountable for R28.9m legal costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/concourt-rules-against-zuma-but-he-wants-officials-held-accountable",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T17:03:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/concourt-rules-against-zuma-in-r28-9m-legal-costs-battle/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Constitutional Court has ruled against former President Jacob Zuma, ordering him to pay R28.9 million in legal fees. Zuma had appealed a 2018 decision requiring him to repay the state-funded costs, but the Pretoria High Court ruled in 2025 that he must pay the amount, plus interest, within 60 days. The Jacob Zuma Foundation criticized the court's decision, arguing that it does not have jurisdiction and that accountability should lie with the officials who made the decision. The Foundation also noted that Zuma did not make the decision or authorize the expenditure. Should Zuma fail to pay the amount, his pension could be affected. The foundation plans to claim indemnification against the Presidency, Ministry of Justice, and State Attorney, and is calling for an investigation into who authorized the expenditure.",
  "summary": "Should Zuma fail to settle the amount, his presidential pension benefits could be attached.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}