Former South African President Jacob Zuma has sacked his lawyer Daniel Mantsha, who has served for two years.
Mantsha has been a common figure in Zuma’s court cases, where he is charged with graft.
“The JG Zuma Foundation announces that former president Jacob Zuma has decided to terminate the mandate of his attorney of record, Daniel Mantsha of Lugisani Mantsha Attorneys, with immediate effect,” the JG Zuma Foundation said on Sunday.
Mantsha who represented Zuma since 2018 was hailed by the JG Zuma Foundation described as someone who “worked very hard, with dedication to ensure that the defence team succeeds in its work.”
“Former president Zuma has unfortunately come to the conclusion that it is in his best interests to part ways with Mr Mantsha at this stage so that he can focus more on the preparation for the trial,” the Foundation added.
Zuma is on trial on 18 charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to a $2 billion arms deal with French defense firm Thales in 1999, when he was deputy president. He rejects the allegations as a politically motivated witch-hunt.
