Former South African President Jacob Zuma has surrendered to a prison to serve a 15-month prison sentence. Police confirmed this after a letter from the Zuma Foundation.
Last week, the Constitutional Court sentenced Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. The ruling states that he attempted to ignore, undermine or even destroy the rule of law in various ways. Zuma, 79, refused to appear before a hearing on corruption charges during his 2009-2018 presidency.
After the sentencing, his lawyers tried to prevent the ANC politician from ending up in prison. On Saturday, the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended the prison sentence, so that the former president could submit his objections to the ruling to the court.
Deadline until midnight
Later, the court ruled that Zuma really had to go to jail and gave him until midnight to report. If he does not do so voluntarily, the police can arrest him right after midnight.
Fourteen minutes before the deadline, his foundation announced that Zuma had decided to comply with the confinement order and was on his way to prison.
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