[imagesource: Sandile Ndlovu]

Good morning, South Africa.

Former president Jacob Zuma is now in jail.

Has a rather nice ring to it, right?

Last night saw two highly anticipated battles go down to the wire. England pipped Denmark in extra time to book their spot in the Euro 2020 final, and the ConCourt’s order to arrest Zuma by midnight saw time ticking by amidst great uncertainty.

At Nkandla, where COVID-19 regulations don’t apply, reporters, supporters, and law enforcement gathered.

At times, it was all rather farcical, and those who followed the News24 live feed were treated to some uniquely South African scenes.

Edward Zuma, Jacob’s son, seemed in high spirits:

[He] appeared outside the main gate to the Nkandla homestead, declaring that the only way anyone will enter the property will be by “going over” him…

He proceeded to walk around with a stick and was seemingly unsteady on his feet.

The Daily Maverick called Edward “thoroughly sozzled”.

When told that the clock was ticking, he suggested that it ‘unclicks itself’:

At around 10:30PM, an ambulance arrived on the scene, and was blocked from entering.

Funny, I thought the national curfew was 9PM?

It was established shortly afterwards that someone from Nkandla had called, saying that Zuma is ill.

Paramedics said they were called by Zuma’s private doctor, and the ambulance was allowed to enter just after 11PM.

You could be forgiven for thinking that Schabir Shaik had sent a getaway ambulance.

Shortly after 11:15, a motorcade convoy departed Nkandla. Some of the vehicles leaving the homestead were part of the police’s Presidential Protection Unit, which is assigned to guard the former president:

Then, at 11:46PM, official confirmation arrived:

Dear South Africans and the World.
Please be advised that President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order.
He is on his way to hand himself into a Correctional Services Facility in KZN.
A full statement will be issued in due course.#WenzenuZuma

— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 7, 2021

Zuma’s daughter, who had previously tweeted videos of machine guns being fired, also announced the news:

Cdes, we celebrate the imprisonment of the Freedom Fighter @PresJGZuma
Cdes, we celebrate the incarceration of the only man who remained loyal to @MYANC. Cdes, no retreat, no surrender in fighting WMC and their proxy’s in our Leadership. Amandla ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽!!! pic.twitter.com/SUgNzPmWEf

— Dudu Zuma-Sambudla (@DZumaSambudla) July 7, 2021

It appears she also found some humour in the situation:

Just spoke @PresJGZuma en route and he is still in high spirits. He said that he hopes they still have his same overalls from Robben Island and we laughed hard that at least he won’t struggle with Afrikaans this time round. We salute dad! Amandla ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽!!! pic.twitter.com/ooLngCSDXg

— Dudu Zuma-Sambudla (@DZumaSambudla) July 7, 2021

And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for.

Whilst it wasn’t a frogmarch in handcuffs, Zuma’s motorcade arrived at the recently refurbished Estcourt Correctional Centre at about 1:20AM:

The Department of Correctional Services issued this statement at 2AM:

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) can confirm that Mr Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has been admitted to start serving a 15 months sentence at Estcourt Correctional Centre, KwaZulu-Natal. Mr Zuma will be taken through all the admission processes as per DCS regulations.

Other relevant prescripts pertaining to admitting and orientating newly incarcerated persons will also be followed and executed. Details about the appropriate classification, prerogatives and incarceration conditions can only be determined at the completion of the assessment process to be undertaken by relevant authorities within the employ of DCS.

Keeping inmates in a safe and secure custody remains cardinal to Correctional Services and we remain committed to this cause.

And thus it was done.

Jacob Zuma is in jail.

Even if his legal challenges against the 15-month sentence are unsuccessful, he will likely serve less than four months before being paroled.

But it’s a start, and Zuma will now return to face his corruption trial in July as a sentenced inmate.

Finally, this truly heartbreaking statement was tweeted out at 8AM:

To: ALL MEDIA
Please be advised that the spokesperson of the Foundation, will not participate in any media engagements for the best part of today.
He needs time to reflect on the tragedy that has just happened.
The Patron of the Foundation, HE Prez Zuma was jailed without trial.

— JGZuma Foundation (Official) (@JGZ_Foundation) July 8, 2021

There really isn’t a violin tiny enough.

So many bogus statements in so few words.

Enjoy this small victory, South Africa, in the hopes that bigger ones are still to come.

[source:news24]