MKP
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, appeared in the Durban High Court on Monday, pleading not guilty to charges of incitement and terrorism linked to the July 2021 unrest. The state alleges her social-media posts encouraged violence that led to nationwide chaos.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and a current MP for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), appeared before the Durban High Court on Monday to answer charges related to her alleged role in the July 2021 unrest that engulfed parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The National Prosecuting Authority accuses Zuma-Sambudla of using her social-media platforms to incite violence and encourage acts of public disorder following her father’s imprisonment for contempt of court. The unrest, which left more than 300 people dead and caused billions of rand in damages, remains one of the darkest chapters in South Africa’s democratic history.
Zuma-Sambudla pleaded not guilty to all charges, which include incitement to commit terrorism, public violence, and violating the Riotous Assemblies Act. Through her lawyers, she denied that her tweets and online statements were meant to provoke violence, insisting that she merely exercised her right to free expression and political commentary.
Outside the court, dozens of MKP supporters gathered in solidarity, chanting pro-Zuma slogans and carrying placards calling the case a “political witch hunt.” The atmosphere was tense but largely peaceful, as police maintained a visible presence to prevent disruptions.
State prosecutor Advocate Shaun Naidoo told the court that the prosecution would rely on expert testimony and digital forensics to show that Zuma-Sambudla’s social-media activity played a significant role in mobilising unrest. The defence, however, has indicated that it will challenge both the credibility of the evidence and the intent attributed to her posts.
Action within the courtroom was steady and procedural, but the case carries deep political undertones. For many, Zuma-Sambudla’s trial has become a symbol of the lingering divisions around the Zuma legacy, a battle between those who view her as a scapegoat for government failures and those who see her as an instigator of one of South Africa’s most devastating riots.
The case is expected to continue over the next two weeks, with the state calling its first witness later this week.
