Home Africa Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to Face Charges Over 2021 Riots

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to Face Charges Over 2021 Riots

by Bustop TV News
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to Face Charges Over 2021 Riots

Durban – Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, is set to appear in court on Thursday for her alleged role in inciting the 2021 riots that left more than 300 people dead.

Her party, uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK), confirmed the development on X, calling on supporters to “mobilise all ground forces to attend in numbers” at the Durban court.

The 2021 unrest, one of the deadliest episodes in post-apartheid South Africa, erupted in KwaZulu-Natal before spreading to Gauteng following Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court. The violence saw widespread looting, destruction of businesses, and significant economic losses, with President Cyril Ramaphosa labeling it an “attempted insurrection.”

Zuma-Sambudla, a vocal supporter of her father, was accused of sharing inflammatory social media posts that allegedly fueled the riots. During the chaos, she repeatedly posted messages such as “KZN, we see you” alongside images of destruction. In a now-deleted post, she reportedly shared a video of an individual firing an automatic rifle at a poster of Ramaphosa.

Though she has not directly commented on the charges, Zuma-Sambudla posted a cryptic message on X, stating: “We see you,” a phrase she frequently used during the riots.

Authorities have long faced pressure to hold those responsible for the violence accountable. In 2022, the Hawks indicated they were not directly investigating Zuma-Sambudla, but her name had surfaced in witness statements. At the time, she defiantly responded on X: “I have no fear! I will not be intimidated! I have beaten the dogs, now the masters are coming out! We see you!”

The Jacob Zuma Foundation previously claimed the former president’s children were being targeted, while the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) described the riots as a “carefully orchestrated event” but found no direct link to Zuma’s arrest.

In 2023, a former security guard became the first person convicted for his role in the deadly riots, receiving a 12-year prison sentence.

The unrest, which lasted several days, resulted in the looting of more than 200 shopping malls and the loss of over 150,000 jobs. The economic impact was estimated in the billions.

Zuma, who resigned as president in 2018 amid corruption allegations, remains a divisive figure in South African politics. His party, MK, emerged as a significant force in last year’s elections, securing 15% of the vote to become the country’s third-largest political party.

With Zuma-Sambudla now facing legal action, the case is expected to reignite political tensions ahead of upcoming national elections.

BBC

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