Latest news with #DuduzileZuma-Sambudla
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
WhatsApp group linked to July 2021 unrest lands four in court
The Hawks confirmed that more arrests are imminent. The Roodepoort Magistrates Court has granted R1 500 bail each to four suspects who appeared for incitement to commit public violence in connection with the July 2021 unrest. Bekuyise Cebekhulu, 58, from KwaZulu-Natal; Jimmy Sibeko, 44; Busisiwe Skhosana, 52; and Bogadi Mahisa, 49, from Gauteng, made their first appearance before the court on Tuesday morning. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) authorised arrest warrants for the suspects, who then handed themselves over through their legal representatives. Bail for suspected instigators of July 2021 unrest The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) said they arrested the four suspects in connection with the unrest that took place in July 2021. The unrest in 2021 resulted in more than 350 people losing their lives and cost R50 billion in damages. The protests, violence, and looting erupted across the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng provinces following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma. ALSO READ: Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla wants terrorism charges dropped as trial dates set Hawks' spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the suspects, who were allegedly supporters of Zuma, participated in a WhatsApp group named ZUMA REAL ACTIVIST 100% and other chat groups on the platform. 'They'd post inciting messages which it is believed to have led to the public violence as well as the looting of retail stores in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal at the time,' Mogale said. The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime, Crimes Against the State (CATS) in Gauteng carried out extensive investigations. Accused of fuelling the unrest through WhatsApp messages Upon completion of the investigations, the DPP decided to prosecute those who posted messages which led to the unrest. The Roodepoort Magistrates Court granted Cebekhulu, Sibeko, Skhosana and Mahisa bail of R1 500 each. The suspects are expected to appear in court again on 2 July. Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Ebrahim Kadwa, welcomed the arrests and commended the investigating team. ALSO READ: Will your insurance cover loss and damage due to civil unrest? 'DPCI shall continue to secure in court the attendance of anyone against whom sufficient evidence of committing a national priority offence is obtained, without fear, favour or prejudice,' Maj Gen Kadwa said. The Hawks confirmed that more arrests are imminent. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla charged with terrorism The former president's daughter and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is also a suspect. She appeared at the Durban Magistrate's Court in January. In January last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found there was no discernible connection between Zuma's incarceration and the violent unrest that occurred in July 2021. The SAHRC concluded that the timing of the events of the July unrest 'coincided' with Zuma's jailing and, therefore, 'it could not find evidence to link the two events'. NOW READ: July unrest: Ex-security guard sentenced to 20 years in jail for killing Verulam father
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla: Ex-South African president Jacob Zuma's daughter faces terrorism charges
The daughter of ex-South African president Jacob Zuma has appeared in court after being charged over her alleged involvement in July 2021 riots, which left over 300 people dead. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is accused of inciting others to carry out violent acts through her social media posts that month. The 42-year-old, who is a member of parliament, handed herself into a police station in the eastern city of Durban on Thursday morning. She faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and incitement to commit public violence under a law that deals with threats to the state, prosecutors say. The MP is accused of urging protesters to cause more damage during the riots as a sign of support for her father. She was later released on warning - similar to bail but without a money payment - as her case was moved to a higher court to continue in March. Her lawyer said she did make social media posts on what was then known as Twitter related to the riots but denied they incited violence. The unrest broke out four years ago after her father, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to testify at a government corruption inquiry. The violence was also partly down to poverty, inequality and frustrations over South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown measures at the time. Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, who leads the Hawks special police unit, said the arrest was "a result of a meticulous investigation... following the unrest that brought the country to a standstill in 2021". Around 350 people died in the demonstrations, as thousands of shops were looted, more than 5,000 people were arrested, and over £1.5bn of damage was caused. It marked some of the worst civil unrest in South Africa since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994. Zuma, 82, also appeared in court on Thursday, while supporters of his uMKhonto weSizwe (MK) Party gathered outside. He served two months in prison for contempt of court but has also been charged with corruption, racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering over an arms deal the South African government signed with a French arms maker in 1999. He denies any wrongdoing. Read more from Sky News: The former president founded the new party in 2024, years after he was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) party for being jailed. In last year's election, MK won 14.6% of the vote, as the ruling ANC had its worst-ever result.
Sky News
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla: Ex-South African president Jacob Zuma's daughter faces terrorism charges
The daughter of ex-South African president Jacob Zuma has appeared in court after being charged over her alleged involvement in July 2021 riots, which left over 300 people dead. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is accused of inciting others to carry out violent acts through her social media posts that month. The 42-year-old, who is a member of parliament, handed herself into a police station in the eastern city of Durban on Thursday morning. She faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and incitement to commit public violence under a law that deals with threats to the state, prosecutors say. The MP is accused of urging protesters to cause more damage during the riots as a sign of support for her father. She was later released on warning - similar to bail but without a money payment - as her case was moved to a higher court to continue in March. Her lawyer said she did make social media posts on what was then known as Twitter related to the riots but denied they incited violence. The unrest broke out four years ago after her father, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, was jailed for contempt of court after refusing to testify at a government corruption inquiry. The violence was also partly down to poverty, inequality and frustrations over South Africa's COVID-19 lockdown measures at the time. 1:47 Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, who leads the Hawks special police unit, said the arrest was "a result of a meticulous investigation... following the unrest that brought the country to a standstill in 2021". Around 350 people died in the demonstrations, as thousands of shops were looted, more than 5,000 people were arrested, and over £1.5bn of damage was caused. It marked some of the worst civil unrest in South Africa since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule in 1994. 2:44 Zuma, 82, also appeared in court on Thursday, while supporters of his uMKhonto weSizwe (MK) Party gathered outside. He served two months in prison for contempt of court but has also been charged with corruption, racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering over an arms deal the South African government signed with a French arms maker in 1999. He denies any wrongdoing. The former president founded the new party in 2024, years after he was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) party for being jailed. In last year's election, MK won 14.6% of the vote, as the ruling ANC had its worst-ever result.
