The trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, is expected to begin at the Durban High Court on Monday, 10 November.
Zuma-Sambudla faces charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) and incitement to commit violence linked to the July 2021 unrest that swept through parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
She first appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on 30 January, where she handed herself over to authorities before being released on warning. Her case was later transferred to the High Court for trial.
DUDUZILE ZUMA-SAMBUDLA TRIAL SET TO BEGIN IN DURBAN
The charges stem from the widespread riots and looting that followed Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment in July 2021 for contempt of court. The violence, which lasted several days, left over 350 people dead and caused billions of rands in damage to businesses and infrastructure. Authorities alleged that social media posts by Zuma-Sambudla and others encouraged acts of violence during that period.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, now a member of Parliament for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, has become a prominent figure in her father’s political comeback campaign. Her trial comes at a politically sensitive time, as the MK Party, led by Jacob Zuma, continues to challenge the ANC’s dominance and contest the legitimacy of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration.
The proceedings are expected to reignite debate over accountability for the 2021 unrest, which remains one of the most severe episodes of civil instability in post-apartheid South Africa. Critics of the prosecution argue that the charges are politically motivated, while others insist that justice must take its course to prevent similar violence in the future.
BROADER CONTEXT
The case also tests South Africa’s ability to balance freedom of expression with national security, particularly under the contentious POCDATARA Act, which some legal analysts have criticised for its broad interpretation of terrorism-related offences.
Zuma-Sambudla has consistently maintained her innocence and framed the charges as part of a broader campaign to silence voices critical of the state.
