On Monday, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of ex-South African President Jacob Zuma, entered a not-guilty plea to charges of provoking violence during the 2021 riots that claimed over 300 lives.
The disturbances erupted in July 2021 following Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment for refusing a court order to appear at a corruption probe, quickly escalating into widespread looting and chaos.
The economic toll from the riots has been calculated at 50 billion rand (equivalent to $2.9 billion at the current exchange rate).
Zuma-Sambudla attended the Durban high court on the opening day of her trial related to the unrest.
Prosecutors claim she encouraged others to engage in violent acts via her social media postings.
Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018 and still commanding strong loyalty, was present in court to back his daughter, seated with members of his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party.
MK played a significant role in disrupting the previous year’s national elections, helping cause a steep decline in backing for the African National Congress, the party Zuma once headed.
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