Former South African head of state Jacob Zuma spent his first night in prison. He surrendered to justice on Wednesday, July 7, 2021, around 11:30 pm, half an hour before the expiry of the deadline set for him by the justice of his country. Sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of justice by the Constitutional Court, the 79-year-old man finally decided to surrender to avoid being forcibly picked up by the national police. However, his lawyers have filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court which is due to examine it on Monday, July 12.
The former South African president, Jacob Zuma, finally went to court to serve his 15-month sentence handed down by the Constitutional Court. This Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at 23:30, the politician avoided a clash with the police by deciding to turn himself over to justice. He left his Nkandla residence in KwaZulu-Natal with a motorcade to head for Escourt prison, 200 km from his home. It is in this penitentiary with a capacity of more than 500 inmates that “Mr. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma was admitted to begin serving his sentence”, says a statement from the prison administration.
The lawyers of the former president have appealed to the Constitutional Court to hope for a reduction of the sentence. Similarly, they went to a provincial court to have his arrest overturned. The vote is scheduled for Friday, July 9, 2021.
It should be noted that Jacob Zuma initially refused to admit his sentence, citing health reasons and a procedure that did not respect his basic rights. Near his residence, he had gathered his activists and supporters on Sunday, July 4, 2021 to defy justice and promise that he would never surrender. But, half an hour before the ultimatum that had notified him by the Constitutional Court, lex-head of South African State from 2009 to 2018 preferred to comply with the decision of the court, in total discretion aboard a convoy of SUVs. The information fell in a tweet from the foundation that represents him. “President Zuma has decided to comply with the detention order. He is on his way to a correctional facility.” , says the post posted on Tweeter after the former president’s departure.
