South Africa’s ex-President Jacob Zuma sentenced to prison

The former President has battled corruption allegations in and out of office.

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been sentenced to 15 months in prison by a Constitutional Court in South Africa.

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Zuma has been found guilty of contempt by the highest court in South Africa for defying an order to appear at an inquiry into corruption while he was President.

The constitutional Court has given him five days to hand himself to the Police, else the police minister must order his arrest.

While Mr. Zuma was in office between 2008-2019, his reign was surrounded by corruption allegations. His government was accused of businessmen conspiring with politicians to influence the decision making process.

Although, the former president made one appearance at the inquiry, he refused to appear subsequently. Thus, the inquiry- headed by Justice Raymond Zondo-asked the Constitutional Court to intervene.

Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe disclosed in a ruling that Mr. Zuma disobeyed an order to testify before a judicial panel investigating corruption allegations during his reign.

According to her, Mr. Zuma “elected instead to make provocative, unmeritorious and vituperative statements that constituted a calculated effort to impugn the integrity of the judiciary.”

“I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message that the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails.” She said.