Duduzile Zuma, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, appeared in Durban High Court to face incitement charges.
Credits: IOL
By Duncan Mnisi
Durban – Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, appeared in the Durban High Court on Monday to face charges related to her social media posts during the 2021 protests. She pleaded not guilty to three counts of incitement.
Duduzile’s lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, said his client would not speak at the start of the trial. “She has submitted a bail affidavit, and the case is expected to last about two weeks,” Mpofu explained.
The court case is seen as important because Duduzile is also a Member of Parliament for her father’s party, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP). She is accused of encouraging violence through her online posts during the unrest, which erupted after her father turned himself in to serve a prison sentence.
Supporters and critics are closely watching the case. Many see it as a test of justice for a prominent political figure’s family. Duduzile was present in court to show her support for her father, who was also there.
The unrest in July 2021 was sparked when Jacob Zuma handed himself over to authorities. During this period, social media was reportedly used to coordinate violent protests. Witnesses testified that WhatsApp groups played a key role, with some groups having over 300 members planning the chaos.
One main group, called “3 Zuma Coordinators,” had 204 members on July 8, 2021, and was part of a national effort to organize protests. Other groups like “ANC Factional Metro” and “EMTF Stop” also planned activities that led to looting, destruction, and loss of life. The state argued that high-level information was shared to fuel the violence.
“It is clear that these groups coordinated both nationally and locally,” a court witness said. The authorities linked over 100 people to posts inciting violence, which contributed to the loss of more than 350 lives across South Africa.
The case raises concerns about the power of social media to spread violence and influence political unrest. As the trial continues, many are eager to see how justice will unfold in this high-profile incident.
