Zuma Must Repay Diamond Dealer's Donation
August 16, 23
(IDEX Online) - Former South African president Jacob Zuma has been ordered to repay a donation made by diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg to fund his legal team.
Liebenberg reportedly gave Zuma (pictured) almost $170,000 (R3.2m) towards private prosecutions against journalist Karyn Maughan, state advocate Billy Downer and current president Cyril Ramaphosa. after confidential medical records were leaked.
Zuma, 81, was sentenced to 15 months in jail in June 2021 for refusing to testify about corruption during his term in office - a move which provoked deadly riots.
He was freed after two months on medical parole, for an undisclosed condition.
Liebenberg is founder and co-director of the Tariomix diamond company, which was put into provisional liquidation in February after complaints from clients.
The business news website Fin24 reports the ruling of an insolvency inquiry, that "'money dished out liberally by Mr Liebenberg" must be repaid.