South Africa’s Constitutional Court today, 29 June ruled that former president Jacob Zuma was in contempt of court for failing to appear at a corruption inquiry earlier this year, and it ordered that he be imprisoned for 15 months.
Zuma failed to appear at the inquiry led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in February.
The inquiry is examining allegations of high-level graft during Zuma’s period in power from 2009 to 2018. Zuma denies wrongdoing and has so far not cooperated.
Justice Khampepe said Zuma is ordered to submit himself to the South African Police at Nkandla Police Station or Johannesburg Central Police Station within five days, where he will start serving his 15 month jail sentence.
“In the event that he does not submit himself, the Minister of police and the National Police Commissioner must within three days of the expiry of the (five day) period take all the steps necessary to ensure Mr Zuma is delivered to correctional centre in order to commence serving the sentence.
Zuma was also ordered to pay all legal costs in this case.
