Jacob Zuma's daughter goes on trial over deadly South African riots

"Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a politician and daughter of the former South African president Jacob Zuma, has pleaded not guilty to incitement to commit terrorism and public violence over deadly riots in 2021. The trial, which began on Monday in the coastal city of Durban, is the first prosecution in South Africa in which terrorismrelated charges are being brought based on social media posts."

"He served only two months of an 18-month prison term, mostly in the prison's hospital wing, before he was released as part of a decision affecting certain nonviolent offenders approved by the president, Cyril Ramaphosa. His jailing sparked riots in the provinces of Gauteng, which is home to the economic capital of Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal, whose capital is Durban. More than 350 people were killed and the economy ravaged in what was considered the worst episode of domestic unrest since the end of apartheid."

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla pleaded not guilty to incitement to commit terrorism and public violence over the deadly 2021 riots. The trial opened in Durban and is the first South African prosecution to bring terrorism-related charges based on social media posts. Jacob Zuma was jailed in July 2021 for contempt over his refusal to appear before a commission investigating widespread corruption often referred to as state capture; he served only two months of an 18-month term before release under a presidential decision affecting certain nonviolent offenders. His imprisonment sparked riots in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal that killed more than 350 people and caused severe economic damage. Prosecutors allege Zuma-Sambudla played a key role in incitement through social media activity; she denies the allegations, wore a T-shirt reading Modern Day Terrorist at a preliminary hearing, followed her father into the uMkhonto weSizwe party after he left the ANC, and was elected to the national assembly on that party’s platform.

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