Keypoints:
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla denies terror charges in Durban
- Accused of inciting 2021 unrest after her father’s arrest
- Zuma family calls case political persecution
DUDUZILE Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges at the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban, marking the start of a politically charged trial that has revived tensions from the 2021 unrest.
The 43-year-old faces charges of inciting public violence and terrorism over social media posts made during the week of riots that erupted in July 2021 following her father’s imprisonment. The violence, which engulfed parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, left more than 300 people dead and caused an estimated $2.8bn in damages.
Prosecution links posts to deadly riots
Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla’s online posts encouraged unrest and aggravated public anger after Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court. The former president had refused to testify at a judicial inquiry into corruption during his time in office, a move that sparked fierce reactions among his supporters.
The state claims her comments on X (formerly Twitter) ‘amplified calls for chaos’ as protests spiralled into widespread looting and arson. She has been charged under South Africa’s anti-terrorism and public order laws.
Zuma-Sambudla, however, maintains that her posts were expressions of political opinion, not incitement to violence.
Defence calls case ‘political and weak’
Her lawyer has dismissed the prosecution’s case as politically motivated and lacking substance, saying it represents an attempt to punish the Zuma family for the former president’s opposition to the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Outside court, Zuma-Sambudla told reporters she believed the case was a continuation of political persecution targeting her father and his supporters. Her father, who now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, attended the hearings alongside senior party figures.
A small group of MK supporters gathered outside the courthouse, waving party flags and chanting solidarity songs, while police maintained a visible presence.
Zuma Foundation condemns ‘abuse of power’
The Jacob Zuma Foundation has denounced the prosecution as an ‘abuse of power’ and a ‘systematic campaign of political and familial harassment’. In a statement, the foundation said the case reflects the state’s effort to undermine the former president’s growing political influence ahead of upcoming local elections.
Legal analysts say the trial could test South Africa’s balance between free speech and national security, especially in an era where online political expression often blurs the line between activism and incitement.
Zuma-Sambudla’s trial is expected to continue over the coming weeks as prosecutors present digital evidence linking her social media activity to the 2021 unrest.
