Cape Town - The Justice and Correctional Services Department spent up to R104 000 a day on four lawyers in a single court case, MPs heard.
The court case focused on the cadre deployment policy, and it was brought forward by the DA against six respondents, namely the ANC, the ANC deployment committee, ANC deputy president, SA president, the government, and the Public Service and Administration minister.
In one of his state capture reports, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo attributed state capture to the cadre deployment policy.
DA MP Dr Leon Schreiber had asked Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola what it cost the State as it opposed his party in the matter between the DA and the ANC about the cadre deployment policy in the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa.
Lamola said: “The total amount incurred by the state was R448 988.75.”
Schreiber, the DA’s spokesperson on public service and administration, also asked Lamola whether he deemed it appropriate to spend public funds defending a political party’s policy.
Lamola said: “It is incorrect to allege that public money was spent to defend a policy of a political party.
“The applicant (the DA) in its papers cited the political party or organisation as the first, second and third respondents, and also, in the same papers cited the fourth, fifth and sixth respondents in the matter to advance and bolster its case.
“It was evident and necessary that the fourth, fifth and sixth respondents’ side of the story be heard by the court. The fourth, fifth and sixth respondents were represented by the State Attorney’s office.”
He said the ANC respondents were represented by a private firm and at no charge to the State. The Presidency was represented by advocate Adila Hassim SC and advocate Nomonde Nyembe.
Lamola said Hassim charged the Presidency R2 600 an hour and R26 000 a day, while Nyembe charged R1100 an hour and R11000 a day.
The Public Service and Administration minister used advocate Vincent Maleka SC and advocate Molatelo Sekwakweng.
Maleka at R5500 an hour and R55 000 a day, Sekwakweng at R1200 an hour and R12000 a day.