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DA welcomes Justice Department decision to deny Selebi appeal case funding
Development is significant - shows public purse is not an open cheque book
DA to submit parliamentary questions in bid to improve clarity on departmental handling of legal funding requests


The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision by the Department of Justice to deny former National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi's application for funding in his court appeal bid.

This is a significant development, indicating that the public purse is not an open cheque book. Justice spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, stated that a wide range of factors had been considered when making this decision. Accountability for public funds was undoubtedly one of these considerations, especially bearing in mind that over R17 million has already been spent on Selebi's legal fees.

We have consistently drawn attention to public funds being used for state office bearers, especially when these legal fees start to run into the millions - for example Judge Hlophe's R6.7 million legal bill. It is important that there are solid policies in place to ensure that whilst employees are afforded reasonable assistance from the state, a balance is found to ensure that state funds are not abused either.

I have already posed parliamentary questions to the DoJ to clarify Justice Department policy regarding the payment of legal fees; it is important there is improved clarity on the circumstances in which the state will consider funding appeals.