Zuma Hands Himself In To South African Police

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has handed himself in to police to begin serving a jail sentence for contempt of court.

His foundation said he had travelled to a prison near to his home in KwaZulu-Natal province late on Wednesday.

Police had warned that they were prepared to arrest Mr Zuma, 79, if he failed to hand himself in.

Last week, he was given a 15-month jail term for contempt of court after he failed to attend a corruption inquiry.

The sentencing sparked an unprecedented legal drama in South Africa, with a deadline imposed of midnight on Wednesday (22:00 GMT) for Mr Zuma's arrest.

The deadline was imposed after Mr Zuma refused to hand himself in on Sunday.

South Africa has never seen a former president jailed before.

Mr Zuma, 79, was forced to resign in 2018 after nine years in power.

Though he was forced out of office by his own party, the African National Congress (ANC), he retains a loyal body of supporters, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal.