Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, is set to appear in court for her alleged role in the 2021 riots that left over 300 people dead. The charges stem from accusations that she incited violence through social media posts during the deadly unrest.
The riots erupted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court, leading to widespread looting, destruction, and economic devastation. Zuma-Sambudla, a senior figure in her father’s uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) party, was known for posting images of the chaos with the phrase “We see you.” In a recent cryptic post, she repeated the same words ahead of her court appearance.
Her party, MK, has called for mass support outside the Durban court, urging followers to “mobilize all ground forces.” The charges come years after a South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) report labeled the riots a “carefully orchestrated event” but stopped short of linking them directly to Zuma’s arrest.
President Cyril Ramaphosa previously described the unrest as an “attempted insurrection.” More than 200 shopping malls were looted, and over 150,000 jobs were lost. To date, only one person—a former security guard—has been convicted for their role in the violence.
With MK gaining political momentum after securing 15% of the vote in recent elections, the case against Zuma-Sambudla is expected to be highly charged, reigniting debates over accountability, justice, and political influence in post-apartheid South Africa.
