Jacob Zuma goes to jail

Former president Jacob Zuma has surrendered to the police and is on his way to hand himself into a correctional services facility in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation said, “President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order”.

The Police Ministry also confirm that “former President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma was placed in Police custody as in compliance with the Constitutional Court judgement”.

This announcement followed news that the South African police planned to arrest Zuma by midnight on Wednesday.

The Constitutional Court last week sentenced Zuma to 15 months in jail for defying its order to testify before a panel that’s probing graft and ordered that he surrender to the authorities by July 4, or face arrest within three days of that deadline.

Police Minister Bheki Cele sought clarity from the court about the arrest order after Zuma applied to a lower court to have it suspended.

“The police will have to make the arrest by midnight,” Police Ministry spokeswoman Lirandzu Themba said.

“Failing to do so would mean the minister and the police commissioner would be in contempt of court. The minister has indicated he is not prepared to be charged for contempt of court.”

The judgment on the application to stay the arrest will be handed down on July 9.

Zuma, 79, remains a powerful political player in South Africa, and his case has been a key test for the country’s democracy and its resolve to uphold the rule of law.

He ruled South Africa for almost nine scandal-marred years until the ruling African National Congress forced him to step down in 2018 to stem a loss of electoral support.

The government estimates that more than R500 billion ($35 billion) was stolen from state coffers. He denies wrongdoing.

Throngs of Zuma’s supporters gathered at his rural homestead in the south-eastern KwaZulu-Natal province prior to the July 4 deadline for him to hand himself in to the authorities, though those numbers have since dwindled.

The ANC on Tuesday distanced itself from Zuma’s attempt to discredit the Constitutional Court, and slated threats by his supporters to block his arrest.

Jacob Zuma Foundation

Dear South Africans and the World.
Please be advised that President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order.
He is on his way to hand himself into a Correctional Services Facility in KZN.
A full statement will be issued in due course.#WenzenuZuma

— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 7, 2021

Police Ministry Spokesperson

[JUST IN] The Police Ministry can confirm that former President of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma was placed in @SAPoliceService custody as in compliance with the @ConCourtSA judgement.

— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) July 7, 2021

Reporting with Bloomberg