ConCourt slaps Zuma with 15-month prison sentence for contempt

In an unprecedented move, the apex court has slapped the former head of state with a 15-month jail term.

"Not only has Mr Zuma failed to dispute the contempt of court he has also failed to contest the degree of the contempt,” Justice Sisi Khampepe said in the majority judgment on Tuesday.

"Instead, he has aggravated it. The majority judgment orders an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period of 15 months. This of cause cannot adequately capture the damage Mr Zuma has done to the dignity and integrity of the judicial system.”

The commission asked the Constitutional Court to impose a two-year sentence on Zuma after he did not abide by a court order to appear before it.

Khampepe said the former president failed to adequately explain his failure to obey a court order by the highest court in the land and appear before the commission.

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She said this is not a conventional trial and that Zuma, who previously claimed the court acted unconstitutionally, may defy a suspended court sentence.

Khampepe said the court needs to send a strong message that defiance is unlawful and would be punished.

Zuma has five days to hand himself over to the police in order to start serving his jail sentence.

"Mr Jacob G Zuma is ordered to submit himself to the South African Police at Nkadla Police Station or Johannesburg Central Police Station within five calendar days from the date of this order.

"For the station commander or other officer in charge of that police station to ensure that he is immediately delivered to the correctional centre to commence serving the sentence imposed," says Khampepe. 

Khampepe elaborates on what will happen should Zuma fail to hand himself over within five days.