South Africa’s ex-president Jacob Zuma handed himself over to police late Wednesday to begin a 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

The former statesman, 79, was sentenced to 15 months in jail on 29 June for defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power.

Whit this move, Zuma ended days of intense speculation over whether the police and former President would obey the order of the country's Constitutional Court for Zuma's arrest and imprisonment.

“Former President Jacob Zuma’s incarceration at the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal will be dignified throughout his term,” said Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola.

Lamola said that former president Jacob Zuma would be placed in isolation for 14 days where his health would be assessed.

“This is not a moment of celebration, it’s a moment of restraint,” he added.

[Read] Former President Jacob Zuma’s incarceration at the Estcourt Correctional Centre in KwaZulu-Natal will be dignified throughout his term, says Justice and @Min_JCS Services Minister @RonaldLamola https://t.co/e3r1N7zUSW pic.twitter.com/6OwpavkVhW

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) July 8, 2021

Former president Jacob Zuma is being held at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.

Jacob Zuma served as the fourth democratically elected President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018.

The Constitutional Court issued a 15-month sentence for contempt of court after Zuma defied an earlier court order to return and testify before the Zondo Commission, a public inquiry launched by Zuma’s government in January 2018 in order to investigate allegations of state capture, corruption, fraud, and other allegations in the public sector including organs of state in South Africa. (ILKHA)