Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of inciting violence during the deadly 2021 riots that left more than 300 people dead.
The unrest erupted in July 2021 following Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court after he refused to testify at a corruption inquiry. The protests quickly spiralled into looting and destruction, causing an estimated 50 billion rand ($2.9 billion) in damages.
Zuma-Sambudla appeared before the high court in Durban for the start of her trial, where prosecutors accused her of using social media posts to encourage violence during the crisis.
Her father, Jacob Zuma who served as South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018 attended the hearing to show support, sitting alongside members of his uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party.
The MK Party, formed by Zuma loyalists, made a strong political impact in last year’s general election, contributing to a significant drop in votes for the ruling African National Congress, which Zuma once led.
