Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla at Durban Magistrate's Court on January 30, 2025 in Durban, South Africa.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, is facing serious charges related to the deadly 2021 riots that claimed more than 300 lives. Prosecutors have accused her of terrorism and incitement to violence, marking the first time in South African history that someone has been charged with inciting terrorism based solely on social media posts.
Zuma-Sambudlaappeared before the Durban Magistrate's Court on Thursday, Jan. 30, after voluntarily surrendering to police. The charges fall under South Africa's Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, setting a significant legal precedent for handling social media-driven unrest.Understanding the 2021 riots
The July 2021 riots in South Africa began as protests againstthe imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma, who was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to testify in a state corruption inquiry. However, these initial demonstrations quickly escalated into widespread violence.
Over a devastating ten-day period between July 9 and 18, waves of violence, looting and arson swept through the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The destruction was immense: the looting of over 200 shopping malls, the destruction of key infrastructure, and the loss of more than 150,000 jobs. The economic damageran into billions of rand.
Although Zuma's arrest was the immediate trigger, underlying issues like high unemployment, economic inequality and political discontent fueled the scale of the violence. In January 2024, the South African Human Rights Commissiondescribed the riots as a "carefully orchestrated event," though it found no direct link between Zuma's arrest and the violence.The social media posts under scrutiny
Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla's posts on X (formerly Twitter) incited violence during the unrest. She frequently posted images of burning buildings and looted shops withcaptions like "KZN, we see you," which prosecutors argue glorified the chaos.
In another post by Zuma-Sambudia, made on July 5, 2021, she wrote, "Cdes, YOU Did This! Siyabonga! Let Us Now Organize Ourselves And Unite To Take Back Our Land And Take Back Our Country From The WMC And Their Proxy's [sic] In Leadership Positions... Mayibuye iAfrika! Amandla!!!"
The tweet included a video of a large crowd gathered in protest. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) claims her online activity played a significant role in amplifying the violence, reaching thousands of her followers during the riots.
"It is the first time that the NPA is charging a person based on content posted on X for what we consider to amount to incitement to commit terrorism," saidNPA spokespersonMthunzi Mhaga, adding that the investigation took time because the case was both "complex" and "unique."
Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty, claiming her posts were expressions of solidarity with protesters, not direct calls for violence.
Speaking on Zuma-Sambudla's behalf in court last Thursday, her lawyer, Dali Mpofu, called the charges "malicious and politically motivated," claiming they were an attempt to settle political scores with her father. He also described it as "nonsensical" to interpret phrases like "KZN, we see you" as incitement and criticized the state for taking nearly four years to bring the case to court.Social media and the political fallout
The case highlights the growing influence of social media in South African politics, where online platforms have become powerful tools for mobilizing support — but can also lead to serious legal consequences. A conviction would establish a significant precedent, potentially making individuals criminally liable for social media posts that spark real-world violence. This could lead to stricter regulations on political expression in digital spaces, subjecting politicians and activists to heightened scrutiny of their online activities.
Her arrest has also sparked political reactions, particularly within uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the party led by her father, which became South Africa's third-largest party after securing15 percent of the vote in the May 2024 elections.
The elder Zuma has denounced the charges as politically motivated, telling supporters outside the courtroom: "They are now arresting my child because they don't like her, nor do they like her father or the party that he leads. Are we going to keep quiet?" Zuma told supportersoutside the courtroom.
MK supporters have rallied behind Zuma-Sambudla, with some comparing her to anti-apartheid icon Winnie Mandela, casting her as a victim of political persecution. One viral post read: "Duduzile Zuma is the new Winnie Mandela of our time. WE SEE YOU."
What's next?
Zuma-Sambudla's trial will continue on March 20, 2025, having been transferred to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban. If convicted, the case could trigger stricter legal measures on online speech, particularly for political figures. Politically, the trial could further galvanize support for MK, positioning Jacob Zuma's party as an even stronger force ahead of future elections.
"They are going to see his daughter as a political martyr. They're likening her to Winnie Mandela. It's insane to see. They'll absolutely be even more supportive than they ever were before," Esona Mtyela, an online commentator and student at the University of Cape Town, said to OkayAfrica.
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