The Durban High Court has scheduled the trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma, to begin in November 2025.
She faces charges related to inciting the 2021 riots that led to more than 350 deaths.
These riots, which erupted after her father was sent to prison, marked one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence South Africa has seen since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Charges and Allegations
Zuma-Sambudla, aged 42, is accused of using her social media platforms to incite terrorism and public violence following her father’s imprisonment in July 2021.
Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison after refusing to testify in a corruption case against him.
His defiance triggered widespread protests, looting, and violence, primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg.
Zuma-Sambudla has denied all the charges against her.
She claims the case is politically motivated, arguing that it is an attempt to silence her and those aligned with her father’s political legacy.
Court Dates and Pre-Trial Assessment
The court has set the trial to start on November 10, with a pre-trial assessment scheduled for August 14.
This means the legal process will continue over the next few months, with the trial itself expected to bring more clarity on the accusations and evidence involved.
The Aftermath of the Riots
The violence following Zuma’s imprisonment was the most intense unrest in South Africa in decades.
In addition to the tragic loss of life, the riots led to widespread destruction of businesses and infrastructure.
Durban, the heartland of Zuma’s support base in KwaZulu-Natal, was hit hardest.
The situation escalated to such a point that President Cyril Ramaphosa, who replaced Zuma in 2018, was forced to deploy the military to restore order. Ramaphosa called the riots an attempted insurrection.
Zuma’s Health and Early Release
Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison but served only two months before his release due to health concerns.
He was later granted a commuted sentence, which sparked further controversy and debate about his treatment under the law.
As the trial date approaches, questions about the fairness of the case and the punishment for those involved in inciting the violence continue to stir conversation.
What do you think would be a fair punishment, if any, for those responsible?