Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, will stand trial at the Durban High Court from November 10 to 21, 2025, facing serious charges related to the deadly July 2021 unrest that shook South Africa.
Zuma-Sambudla is charged with incitement to commit terrorism and two counts of incitement to commit public violence, with the state alleging her social media posts during the violent unrest played a role in fuelling the chaos. The unrest, which erupted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court, led to the deaths of over 350 people and caused billions of rands in damage due to looting and infrastructure destruction.
According to prosecutors, Zuma-Sambudla used her Twitter account to share images and videos of the looting and riots with captions such as “We see you”, which the state argues encouraged further violence and emboldened protesters.
During a pre-trial hearing on August 14, Zuma-Sambudla dismissed the charges as politically motivated, but affirmed that she is ready to face the court. Her legal team, led by prominent advocate Dali Mpofu SC, confirmed that both the defence and prosecution are prepared for the high-stakes proceedings.
With the Zuma name still carrying weight in South African politics and the events of 2021 remaining fresh in the public’s memory, the trial is expected to draw significant national and international attention. It also raises important questions about political accountability, the role of social media in unrest, and how South Africa confronts its most turbulent democratic moments.
