WATCH: Dramatic scenes moments before Zuma surrenders to police
Former president Jacob Zuma has spent his first night inside Estcourt Correctional Centre.
Convicted of contempt of court and handed a 15-month sentence, the former head of state complied with a Constitutional Court order and surrendered to authorities in KwaZulu-Natal late last night.
Police were given until midnight to carry out his arrest if he failed to turn himself in.
Newswatch's Steve Bhengu has been reporting from outside Zuma's Nkandla home.
READ: Former president Jacob Zuma in dates
He witnessed the moment Zuma was whisked away in a convoy of vehicles and says the events leading up to the former president's departure where nothing short of dramatic.
LISTEN: He filed this report:
A small group of #JacobZuma supporters dance and sing outside his #Nkandla home. #ARRESTZUMA @SteveBhengu pic.twitter.com/y9iK1xw5Ww
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 7, 2021
A convoy of what appears to be official vehicles enters through the gates of #Nkandla. It’s not yet clear who was inside or if these are officials delegated with fetching #JacobZuma #ZumaJudgment #ARRESTZUMA @SteveBhengu pic.twitter.com/lZ1kaNjRxM
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 7, 2021
It's the first time an ex-president's been jailed in post-apartheid South Africa.
Zuma complied with a Constitutional Court order and handed himself in at the Estcourt Correctional Centre late last night.
Police were given until midnight to carry out his arrest, if he'd failed to turn himself in.
An ambulance is forced to turn away after attempting to enter the #Nkandla home of #JacobZuma #ARRESTZUMA #ZumaJudgment @SteveBhengu pic.twitter.com/SLmA90ZzoR
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 7, 2021
With just less than an hour to go before the midnight deadline to #ARRESTZUMA there’s still no sign of law enforcement. Fans continue to sing and dance at the gate at the #JacobZuma #Nkandla home. pic.twitter.com/vtKI21Iceh
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 7, 2021
Zuma was convicted of contempt of court and handed a 15-month sentence for snubbing the State Capture Commission.
The former president's daughter, Dudu Zuma Sambudla, tweeted that she spoke to her father as he made his way to the facility and he was still in high spirits.
She said he also joked about the new attire he would have to wear, saying he hopes they still have his overalls from Robben Island.
A convoy of vehicles has just left #JacobZuma’s #Nkandla home. With a little over 30 minutes till midnight It’s unclear if #JacobZuma is inside any of those vehicles. #ARRESTZUMA @SteveBhengu pic.twitter.com/Ngp90Yx5xT
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 7, 2021
