Police negotiations with Zuma lasted nine hours: Cele
Police negotiated with former president Jacob Zuma for nine hours before he handed himself over to authorities to start serving his prison term.
This was revealed by Police Minister Bheki Cele at a police parade in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday.
Zuma left his Nkandla homestead just before midnight on Wednesday and made his way to Estcourt, where he is incarcerated.
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Hundreds of his supporters had gathered outside his home in the days prior.
Cele commended officers who were deployed at Nkandla this past weekend for ensuring calm and stability.
"Almost from 2 o'clock, the South African Police Service members took over the control of the situation.
"Major-General Zulu was inside the homestead, where he was doing all what was supposed, including negotiating with the family, with the former president himself, to make sure it doesn't reach the point where enforcement will be the only thing."
READ: Police deployed to Nkandla amid Friday's pro-Zuma shutdown
