Duduzile says she’s targeted for being a Zuma

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, appeared in the Durban High Court on Tuesday morning, standing firm as her trial began over her alleged role in the July 2021 unrest.

Accused of inciting public violence and terrorism through social media posts, Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty to all charges and says she is being singled out because of her surname.

The courtroom was packed as the two-week trial got underway. Zuma-Sambudla, dressed elegantly and composed, greeted her supporters with a smile before taking her seat. Her legal team, led by Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, argued that the case represents a “political witch-hunt” designed to silence a vocal critic of the state and her father’s treatment during his incarceration in 2021.

Prosecutors allege that a series of tweets and videos shared from her verified account encouraged acts of violence during the unrest that left more than 300 people dead across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. However, the defence maintains that the posts were expressions of solidarity and frustration, not incitement. “My client did not tell anyone to burn, loot or destroy,” Mpofu told the court. “She is being persecuted for her opinions, not her actions.”

Investigators from the Hawks testified that multiple accounts were linked to Zuma-Sambudla’s name, but conceded under cross-examination that several posts attributed to her had been circulated by hundreds of other users who have not been charged. This point became a major focus for the defence, which questioned why only one person has been made the face of a national tragedy.

Zuma-Sambudla has consistently denied any wrongdoing, saying she supports peace, justice and accountability. “I am here because of my father’s name and because I speak my mind,” she told journalists outside court. “But I will face this process with dignity.”

The trial has drawn national attention, not only for its political undertones but also for its implications for freedom of expression in South Africa’s digital age. Supporters gathered outside the courthouse carrying placards reading “Hands off Dudu” and “Justice for All, Not Just the Powerful.”