Former President Jacob Zuma is facing numerous legal battles and a looming second appearance before the state capture commission. Now his problems have been compounded by reports that he has failed to pay school fees for one of his children.

Zuma has reportedly failed to pay around R12 000 in school fees for his daughter with estranged wife Nompumelelo Ntuli. The teenager is enrolled at “a high school near Durban”.

According to City Press, the school obtained a default judgment against Zuma and MaNtuli, as his fourth wife is popularly known, for unpaid fees to the tune of R12 517 at the school.

The media reports said that Zuma was now also liable for legal costs amounting to R1 412 for the debt which was reportedly incurred last year.

Following an appearance at the Pietermaritzburg High Court earlier this Zuma, who is also facing fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges in connection with the multi billion rand 1990s arms deal, told his supporters that he had to sell his hats and socks to pay for his legal fees.

He said that the government was ganging up on him and did not want him to have lawyers and that he had to let go of his white lawyers who had initially represented him in his corruption trial.

Last month Inkosi Simphiwe Zuma, the leader of the Zuma clan, told Independent Media that if Zuma made a request to be helped, they would oblige.

“If we have something to offer, we can help him. He does indicate that he is facing some financial challenges, and we could meet to help him with what we can afford,” said Inkosi Zuma.

Last month the SunTeam reported that the National Prosecuting Authority would not prosecute Ma Ntuli for the alleged poisoning. MaNtuli afterwards described her “five years of hell” as she and her three kids were kicked out of Nkandla. She also said her estranged husband had not made contact with her since she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The former first lady, Nompumelelo Ntuli ‘MaNtuli’ Zuma last month broke her silence and shared the difficulties she claims she has faced since being accused of attempts to poison former president Jacob Zuma five years ago. Amid the allegations in 2015, she and her three children were banned from the Nkandla homestead and were moved to Durban North, TimesLIVE reported.

MaNtuli spoke to Newzroom Afrika’s Karyn Maughan.

This was after the NPA decided not to prosecute anyone for Zuma’s alleged poisoning due to a lack of evidence.

In April this year, TimesLIVE reported that MaNtuli’s lawyer, Ulrich Roux, wrote to NPA head Shamila Batohi, asking her to finalise the investigation against his client as she had been awaiting her fate since 2015.

“I was shattered to go to public and do my work. No one was willing to come near me, no one was willing to work with me so I was so much isolated from the community that I used to stay in,” she said.

“I thought my husband knew me. It was a shock. I was subjected to machines [a lie-detector test]. It has been five years of hell. We were moved to a one-bedroom guest house in Greytown to accommodate for the children’s schooling,” she added.

“My kids and I would sleep together on a double bed in this tiny room and house. We were cramped. I asked to return to Nkandla but Mahlobo’s official said I’m no longer allowed. I felt abused and betrayed all these years,” she revealed.

On social media, tweeps said MaNtuli was a victim of abuse, while others asked why she had not received any support from the ANC Women’s League.

CREDIT: IOL / Timeslive