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I will today be writing to the Law Society of the Northern Provinces to lodge a complaint of unprofessional conduct against Michael Hulley, President Jacob Zuma’s newly appointed legal advisor, regarding his possession of the infamous Zuma “spy tapes”.

While defending President Zuma on charges pertaining to the arms deal, Mr Hulley took possession of tapes of intercepted telephone conversations between Bulelani Ngcuka, then National Director of Public Prosecutions, and Scorpions boss, Leonard McCarthy.

Mr Hulley should never have accepted the tapes. He should certainly never have used them, and he cannot claim professional privilege to cover himself.

Concerns about Hulley’s involvement in the spy tape saga are part of a growing body of evidence which raise serious questions about the President’s judgment in appointing him.

Consider the facts:

• Hulley specialises in criminal law. Why does the President need a criminal lawyer as a legal advisor?
• The Democratic Alliance understands that there are two outstanding investigations into Michael Hulley: one for his role in the Aurora Mining debacle, and the other for possession of stolen property in relation to the secret tapes that ensured that corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma were dropped.
• Given the investigations into Mr Hulley, it is highly unlikely that he would have been granted the necessary security clearance to which special advisors are subjected. The only possible explanation is that he was granted an exemption by the President. Such special treatment heightens concerns that Mr Hulley has been hired by the President not to advise him on state legal matters, but to act as a firewall- at the state's expense- to shield President Zuma during the upcoming arms deal inquiry.

Michael Hulley’s presence in the Presidency directly undermines the President’s new found commitment to transparency and accountability. The Law Society must now determine whether Michael Hulley is still fit to serve in its ranks, and the President should immediately retract his appointment.