South African Former President Jacob Zuma has been given a jail term of 15 months for contempt of the court.

The country's constitutional court found Zuma guilty of failing to obey its order in January that he attend Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo's state capture inquiry for questioning.

The majority decision by seven justices, with two justices dissenting, said there was no other option but to sentence Zuma to a term behind bars as there was no chance, by his own public comments repeatedly made, that he would obey the Court, citing his statements he would rather go to jail.

Zuma, 79, was given five days to present himself for incarceration, failing which he would be arrested by police

The Constitutional Court said Zuma's conduct was 'recalcitrant', 'egregious', smacking of 'malice', and was ongoing, giving the court no choice but to deprive Zuma of his freedom.