Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is about to swap Parliament benches for the Durban High Court dock. Starting Monday 10 November, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP and Jacob Zuma’s daughter will face terrorism charges over tweets she fired off during the July 2021 riots that torched KZN and Gauteng.
The charges? Incitement to commit terrorism and public violence. Specifically, prosecutors say Zuma-Sambudla used social media to fan the flames, posting videos of looting captioned “We see you” and other content they claim encouraged rioters.
Sparked by Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court, July 2021 riots quickly escalated into widespread looting and destruction, leaving over 350 dead, thousands arrested, and billions in economic losses. It was a moment when the country teetered dangerously close to collapse.
So why has it taken over four years to go to trial? KZN National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, said the matter involved complex social‑media forensics and carefully verifying every piece of evidence, which takes time. SAPS also had to outsource some of the investigation to social media experts as they lacked the necessary skills, Mhaga said.
Add to that the enormous political dimension. When you have someone from the country’s most prominent political family, the questions of fairness, public scrutiny and potential appeals skyrocket.
State prosecutor Yuri Gangai noted that more than 12 senior state prosecutors were involved in the decision to charge Zuma‑Sambudla, and he believes the State has a strong case. There was no political motive in the charges, he said, adding that the State had successfully prosecuted other people involved in public violence linked to the 2021 riots.
The trial will scrutinise social media posts, witness testimony, and expert analysis to see whether her online activity directly stoked violence. If she’s convicted, there will probably be appeals, in true Zuma style.
Zuma-Sambudla formally entered her not-guilty plea at her initial court appearance in August, striding into court in a T-shirt blazoned “Modern Day Terrorist” and flashing a smile for the cameras. Her earlier court appearances turned into full-blown Zuma family roadshows, with dad, Jacob, and brother, Duduzane showing support alongside a crowd of MK party loyalists.
How Zuma-Sambudla’s trial plays out will send a clear signal: social media isn’t a free pass when posts spark real-world violence, and it’s a crucial moment to see whether justice can finally catch up with the chaos of July 2021.
