Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is charged with unrest and appears before the Durban High Court

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, was put on trial on Monday at the Durban High Court in KwaZulu-Natal for allegedly inciting the July 2021 unrest.

The trial is expected to run for two weeks.

Zuma-Sambudla, often seen smiling in court, faces serious allegations linked to her social media activity during the deadly unrest that left hundreds dead and severely damaged the economy, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. 

The state alleges she played a key role in inciting the violence. 

She faces three counts related to her online posts during the civil unrest.

Count one which is the incitement to commit terrorisim. 

Prosecutors allege that between June 29 and July 2021, Zuma-Sambudla unlawfully and intentionally incited others to commit acts of terrorism.

While count two is the incitement to commit violence.

The state claims she instigated or encouraged people to assemble unlawfully with the intent to disturb public peace or infringe on others’ rights.

Count three is the Violation of the Riotous Assemblies Act. The third charge concerns a violation of Section 17 of the Riotous Assemblies Act 17 of 1956, which prohibits illegal gatherings intended to cause a riot.

Meanwhile, earlier on Monday, the Jacob Zuma Foundation has again accused the state of abusing its power, claiming it is targeting the former president’s family through Zuma-Sambudla’s prosecution.

“The foundation notes with deep concern the renewed abuse of state power in the continued persecution of President Zuma’s family,” spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said.

“The latest target is President Zuma’s daughter, Ms Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who now faces trial on baseless and politically motivated charges under the guise of ‘terrorism’,” Manyi said.

He argued that the case represents another attempt to “weaponise the criminal justice system to settle political scores” against the Zuma family.

“For more than two decades, state institutions have been selectively mobilised to destroy President Zuma and those associated with him,” he said.

Manyi added that the trial forms part of a “systematic campaign of political and familial harassment” against Zuma, his children, and those who defend his legacy.

“South Africa has previously witnessed the state’s repeated failures to secure convictions against President Zuma’s son, Duduzane Zuma, who was unjustly dragged through the courts on contrived charges ranging from so-called ‘state capture’ to a tragic car accident cynically turned into a criminal prosecution,” he said.

“Having failed to destroy the father and the son, the state has now turned its energies to the daughter - a loyal and outspoken pillar of strength in her father’s life.”

Manyi said Zuma-Sambudla’s only “crime” was expressing solidarity with her father during “one of the darkest moments in our democracy” - his 2021 imprisonment without trial, which the foundation continues to describe as “unconstitutional”.

“The state’s case rests on a bizarre premise: that her social media posts during July 2021 somehow ‘incited’ unrest. In truth, her posts were reactive commentaries on events already unfolding, as millions of South Africans expressed anguish and frustration at the unlawful imprisonment of a liberation hero,” Manyi said.

“It defies logic to claim that impoverished communities, many without access to food, smartphones or data, were mobilised into action by Twitter posts.”

Zuma-Sambudla is a Member of Parliament for her father’s party, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).

The state alleges she used her online platforms to encourage violence and public disorder during the unrest, which claimed more than 300 lives and caused billions of rand in damage. 

However, she previously denied inciting anyone to commit violence.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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