Durban, South Africa – Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges at the start of her trial in the port city of Durban. The 43-year-old faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence stemming from comments she made on social media during the deadly riots that swept across the country in July 2021 following her father’s arrest.
The 2021 Unrest
The protests, primarily concentrated in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, erupted after former President Zuma was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to testify at an inquiry into state corruption during his time in office. The week of looting and arson was marked by anarchy across several parts of the country. The unrest resulted in the deaths of at least 300 people. It caused significant economic damage, estimated at $2.8bn (£2.2bn). Ms Zuma-Sambudla is accused of using her social media presence to fuel this large-scale violence.
Defence Claims Political Persecution
Ms Zuma-Sambudla has consistently denied the charges against her, with her legal team previously describing the state’s case as weak. Both she and the Jacob Zuma Foundation have repeatedly suggested that the prosecution is an attempt to settle political scores against her father. The Foundation labelled the case an “abuse of power” and a “systematic campaign of political and familial harassment.” This claim comes as the former president has recently launched a new political party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), campaigning against the ruling African National Congress (ANC). A handful of MK party supporters gathered outside the KwaZulu-Natal high court as the trial began, while Jacob Zuma and other party leaders attended the proceedings inside the court.
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