Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges at her trial in Durban. The charges stem from social media comments she made four years ago, during significant unrest in the country following her father’s arrest.
In July 2021, South Africa experienced widespread protests marked by looting and arson, resulting in over 300 deaths and an estimated $2.8 billion in damages. Zuma-Sambudla is accused of inciting this violence, facing charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence.
The unrest was particularly intense in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces and was triggered by Jacob Zuma’s arrest for failing to comply with a court order regarding corruption allegations from his time in office. Throughout the proceedings, Zuma-Sambudla has consistently denied the charges, with her legal team arguing that the state’s case lacks substance.
She has suggested that the charges are part of a political vendetta related to her father’s establishment of a new political party and his criticism of the African National Congress (ANC). This perspective has been supported by the Jacob Zuma Foundation, which labeled the case an “abuse of power” and a coordinated effort to intimidate the former president and his family.
During the opening of the trial, a small group of supporters from her political party, uMkhonto weSizwe, gathered outside the KwaZulu-Natal High Court. Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma and other party leaders attended the proceedings in support of Zuma-Sambudla. The trial raises questions about the intersection of political dynamics, free speech, and accountability in South Africa.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj6nppg2kklo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss