UPDATE: Presidential snake dispute still not sssolved

MTUNZINI snake catcher Jaco Dercksen could soon be embroiled in a legal battle with President Jacob Zuma’s wife, Tobeka Madiba Zuma.

This after the businessman made a splash in national media regarding claims of non-payment for his services.

Dercksen alleges he removed snakes from the President’s Nkandla homestead at the behest of the Tobeka Madiba Zuma (TMZ) Foundation just before the festive season, but has not been paid in full.

Now a legal battle seems imminent, as conflicting reports have surfaced in the media.

‘First they said they did not pay because they had found three snakes inside the property after I was there,’ said Dercksen on Friday.

‘Then they said I had not sent a quote, and then again that they had never instructed me to conduct the work.

‘But why then do I have e-mails from them asking when they could expect me?

‘Even the police were aware I was coming. I mean, this is the President’s home and you can’t just arrive there and be allowed on the property. You have to get authorisation.’

Dercksen further indicated that the TMZ Foundation is planning to get a High Court order to prevent him from speaking to the media after reports went as far as suggesting he had expressed veiled threats against the First Lady – which the foundation has denied.

‘You would have to be off your head to threaten these people. All I want is to be paid, and then I will be out of their hair.’

Spokesperson for the TMZ Foundation Laila Saada said there was some confusion.

‘His services were arranged and paid for out of the Madiba Family Trust, not TMZ,’ she said.

‘Currently I cannot predict whether the madame will pursue legal action against Mr Dercksen, but the family lawyers have sent him a letter asking him to stop propagating false information.’

According to Saada, a secondary quote for work done after Dercksen’s first visit to the homestead had not been provided nor accepted, and his claims that he is owed a further R50 000 were baseless.