Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, appeared in court on Thursday after being charged with inciting violence during the 2021 riots that left over 300 people dead.
Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla used social media to encourage violence in July 2021, when unrest erupted following her father’s arrest for contempt of court after he refused to testify in a corruption inquiry. What started as protests against Zuma’s jailing quickly escalated into widespread looting and destruction, fuelled by frustration over poverty and inequality. The riots caused 350 deaths and resulted in financial damages estimated at 50 billion rand ($2.7 billion).
Zuma-Sambudla’s lawyer stated that she will plead not guilty to the charges. She was released on warning and is expected to appear in court again in March.
Her father, Jacob Zuma, who accompanied her to court in Durban, has since become a key figure in uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new political party that significantly impacted South Africa’s 2024 elections. MK won 58 parliamentary seats, contributing to the ANC’s worst electoral performance in decades, forcing the ruling party into a coalition government.
Zuma-Sambudla currently serves as an MK lawmaker in the South African Parliament.
Melissa Enoch
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