Jacob Zuma’s Daughter Faces Terrorism Charges Over 2021 South Africa Riots
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has appeared in court facing terrorism charges. She is accused of encouraging violent protests in 2021, which left over 300 people dead, BBC reports.
In July 2021, South Africa experienced massive riots after Jacob Zuma was jailed for refusing to testify in a corruption case. The violence started in Durban, spread to Gauteng, and led to looting, destruction, and fear across the country. BBC explains that Zuma-Sambudla is accused of posting messages on social media that allegedly fueled the unrest.
South African police, known as the Hawks, said they conducted a thorough investigation before arresting her. BBC quotes their spokesperson, Brig Thandi Mbambo, as saying that the arrest was based on careful evidence-gathering. Zuma-Sambudla turned herself in to the police and was charged under South Africa’s anti-terrorism law.
According to BBC, this is the first time someone in South Africa has been charged for social media posts that allegedly encouraged terrorism. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the case is unique and complex, which is why the investigation took years.
Zuma-Sambudla has denied the charges, telling the court she is not guilty and that there is no proof linking her to the riots. BBC reports that her trial will take place in March, and she has been released on bail.
Her father, Jacob Zuma, attended the court hearing and spoke in her defense. According to BBC, he told supporters that the case was politically motivated, saying: “They are arresting my child because they don’t like her, or me, or my party.”
During the 2021 riots, Zuma-Sambudla made many controversial posts on X (formerly Twitter). BBC recalls that she frequently posted images of burning buildings and chaos, using the phrase “KZN, we see you.” She also shared a video of someone shooting at a poster of President Cyril Ramaphosa, which has since been deleted.
In 2023, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) released a report stating that the riots seemed planned, but they found no direct evidence linking the violence to Jacob Zuma’s arrest, BBC notes.
The riots had a devastating impact, with more than 200 shopping malls looted and over 150,000 jobs lost. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the events as an “attempted insurrection,” BBC reports.
Zuma-Sambudla is a senior member of her father’s new political party, uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), which won 15% of votes in last year’s elections.
BBC highlights that this made it South Africa’s third-largest party, showing Jacob Zuma still has strong political influence despite his past corruption allegations.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyekqn1k1ko