“Why Only Me?”: Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla Questions Selectivity of July Unrest Charges

The highly anticipated trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla opened in the Durban High Court on Monday, with the former president’s daughter immediately posing a pointed question to the state: if the social media posts were so dangerous, why am I the only one in the dock?

Appearing in good spirits, Zuma-Sambudla listened as her legal representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, challenged the prosecution’s case, suggesting a troubling selectivity in who faces consequences for the online rhetoric that swirled during the devastating July 2021 unrest.

The state, however, is painting a very different picture. Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla was not just another user but a key influencer who wielded her platform to incite violence, leading to one of the most traumatic periods in post-apartheid South Africaa wave of looting and destruction that left over 300 people dead and caused billions of rands in economic damage.

The Three Charges She Faces

The gravity of the state’s case is reflected in the charges brought against her:

1. Incitement to Commit Terrorism: The most serious allegation, claiming she unlawfully and intentionally encouraged others to commit acts of terrorism.

2. Incitement to Commit Public Violence: Accusing her of instigating unlawful assemblies intended to disturb public peace and infringe on the rights of others.

3. Violation of the Riotous Assemblies Act: A charge related to illegal gatherings intended to cause a riot.

The State’s First Witness: A Focus on Influence

The prosecution’s case began with testimony from Major General Gopal Gounden of the Hawks, who coordinated the investigation into the unrest. He told the court that investigators identified three X (formerly Twitter) accounts linked to the incitement.

Crucially, he stated that only onethe verified account belonging to Zuma-Sambudlawas authentic. The other two, he testified, were fakes with misspelled versions of her name.

This distinction is central to the state’s argument. They contend that as the daughter of a former president with a verified platform and over 124,000 followers, Zuma-Sambudla’s posts carried a unique weight and reach. Her tweets, made in the volatile period surrounding Jacob Zuma’s arrest, are alleged to have been a direct catalyst for public violence.

The trial, set to run for two weeks, is set to become a landmark case. It probes the legal boundaries of social media speech, the definition of incitement, and the complex task of assigning blame for a national crisis that played out both on the streets and in the digital sphere. For now, the defendant’s simple question”why only me?”hangs heavy in the courtroom.

{Source: IOL}

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