Mr. Zuma, 79, voluntarily surrendered on Wednesday, 40 minutes before a midnight deadline for the Police to hand him over to prison officials. He was driven out of his compound in a long convoy of cars and taken into custody a short time after, Police said.

The arrest followed a week of tense brinkmanship in which the former President and his allies railed against the high court’s decision, suggesting, without evidence, that he was the victim of a conspiracy.

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.