Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to appear in court on Thursday 30 January in connection with the July 2021 riots. Image: @MkhontoweSizwex shared Via X.
The unrest, which led to the deaths of 354 people and caused billions of rands in damage, was triggered by Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment on July 8, 2021, for his refusal to testify at a judicial inquiry into state corruption during his presidency. The violence predominantly affected his home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), as well as Gauteng, over several days.
According to the MKP, him-Sambudla is being charged with inciting terrorism related to the riots, as allegations have pointed to her as one of the key figures in instigating the violence, which included widespread looting and clashes with police. While initial reports suggested that her lawyers had been served with the charges, his-Sambudla herself was reportedly unaware of them, and MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela later clarified the situation in a statement posted on the social media platform X.
During the unrest, various posts about the violence were posted on what was believed to be Zuma-Sambudla’s X account. In November 2022, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KZN was asked if Zuma-Sambudla had been a part of dozens of people under investigation for instigating the unrest, and the response was that the situation was difficult to resolve because sufficient evidence was required.
In addition to Zuma-Sambudla’s charges, other individuals alleged to have been instigators of the riots, including 65 suspects, are due to return to court in May, according to SABC News. These individuals face charges of conspiracy to commit murder and terrorism and are accused of plotting to assassinate retired Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who presided over the state capture inquiry.
The MKP has rallied behind Zuma-Sambudla, calling for supporters to gather outside the court in peaceful protest.
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