Payment of legal fees for the Department and the State in general is made by the offices of the State Attorneys, therefore, the Department, like other institutions of State, does not have the mandate to directly effect legal fees.
However, the Department has, upon receipt of this question, requested the Office of the State Attorney in question to provide details on the legal costs incurred on the Fireblade matter. The State Attorney responded to the Department’s request and advised that it has only attended to the processing of the payment of fees in respect of the Department’s legal team, which amounted to R874 199-25 thus far.