What on Earth was a private lawyer doing on state team in Zuma case?

A lawyer whose firm is at the centre of a public protector probe into the alleged monopolisation of lucrative litigation outsourced by the state attorney’s office, was roped in to assist in the prosecution of former president Jacob Zuma.

While the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Asif Essa had been “standing in” for the state attorney, three sources in the Pietermaritzburg legal fraternity described his presence as “bizarre”.

But Essa said he had fulfilled a supporting role.

“I was asked to go and assist on the day. It was just in case they needed copies or anything. I haven’t even rendered a bill yet,” he said last month.

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