Latest news with #POCDATARA
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to go on trial later this year
The state alleges Zuma-Sambudla used social media to incite and support acts of violence. The case against uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has been declared trial-ready, with proceedings in her July unrest matter scheduled for later this year. Zuma-Sambudla appeared at the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) High Court in Durban on Thursday for a pre-trial hearing. She last appeared in March after her matter was transferred from the Durban Magistrate's Court. The MK party MP was released on warning earlier this year after handing herself over at the Durban Central Police Station. ALSO READ: 'Tweets may suffice' in proving Zuma-Sambudla allegedly incited terrorism – analyst During Thursday's proceedings, the state told the court it was ready to proceed and plans to call eight witnesses, including three social media experts. The trial is set to run from 10 to 21 November. Her defence team, led by Advocate Dali Mpofu, has previously indicated its intention to file representations to National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi, seeking to have the decision to indict her reviewed and overturned. A prior request to KZN Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Elaine Zungu to drop the charges was rejected. Zuma-Sambudla linked to July 2021 unrest Zuma-Sambudla faces charges of terrorism and incitement to commit violence linked to the July 2021 unrest. She is being prosecuted under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA). The state alleges Zuma-Sambudla used her X account – which has over 360,000 followers – to incite and support acts of violence, looting, road blockades, arson, and other offences during the unrest, according to the charge sheet. She allegedly fuelled unrest by sharing social media posts condemning the arrest of her father, former president Jacob Zuma, for contempt of court, and by reposting images and videos depicting the chaos. The July 2021 riots in parts of KZN and Gauteng claimed more than 350 lives and caused economic losses estimated at more than R50 billion. NOW READ: Zuma-Sambudla 'cannot be treated differently even if Zuma is her father' – Mpofu
The Citizen
11-08-2025
- The Citizen
Man's fake threats to skip work earns him real jail time
Fortuin admitted that he had been drinking heavily the day before and 'did not want to go to work the following day'. A 50-year-old Bellville man who sparked mass panic by making hoax bomb threats to police has been sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment. The Bellville regional court convicted Ferdinand Fortuin on three counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA), after he falsely claimed to have planted explosives at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet offices and the Bellville taxi rank. The threats, made on 11 November 2024, forced the evacuation of more than 3 500 people and the deployment of multiple specialised police units. Bomb scare to avoid work According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Fortuin admitted in his plea and sentencing agreement that he had been drinking heavily the day before and 'did not want to go to work the following day'. 'He left his home in Mamre, expecting the roads leading to Bellville to be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day,' the NPA said. Fortuin confessed to buying a cellphone from a drug user to make the hoax calls, including one to the toll-free emergency number, claiming to have placed explosives at the three locations, one of them being his own workplace. ALSO READ: Life for EC man who murdered partner during quarrel Mass evacuations and police deployment The threats triggered a large-scale emergency response. 'At the water and sanitation department offices on Voortrekker Road, police assisted by three bomb disposal technicians, the K-9 Dog Unit, and visible policing unit members evacuated 164 people,' the NPA said. Another 151 people were evacuated from the department's Bellville South offices. Police also cleared 250 people from the Transnet Park Building and evacuated around 3 000 people from the Bellville taxi rank, which was subsequently closed. Roads in and out of the rank were blocked, causing widespread disruption and panic. ALSO READ: Supreme Court upholds 20-year sentence for former ANC MP in R6m AgriB-BBEE fraud case Sentence reduced from minimum term Fortuin faced a prescribed minimum sentence of 15 years unless the court found 'substantial and compelling circumstances' to deviate. The court noted that he was a first offender, had pleaded guilty, shown remorse, and had 'strong personal circumstances' making him a candidate for rehabilitation. He was sentenced to five years' direct imprisonment on all charges combined. NPA regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said they accepted the court's decision but warned that similar offences would be met with severe consequences. 'The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute conduct of this nature to the full extent that the law allows,' he said. NOW READ: Amantle Samane case: Pethe Sara Simao to plead guilty on all counts — lawyer
The South African
11-08-2025
- The South African
Bellville drunkard gets prison time after hoax bomb call to dodge work
A Bellville man, Ferdinand Fortuin, who made hoax bomb threats in an attempt to skip work has been sentenced to five years in prison. Last year, he decided, after a night of heavy drinking, that he did not want to go to work. The 50-year-old then used a burner cellphone to call police and a toll-free emergency number. Fortuin claimed explosive devices had been placed at the Department of Water and Sanitation, Transnet offices, and the taxi rank. NPA Western Cape regional communications manager, Eric Ntabazalila, said police, bomb disposal technicians, the K-9 Dog Unit, and visible policing unit members evacuated thousands of people. Authorities closed the taxi rank and the roads leading to and from it, causing huge panic in the area. 'He [Fortuin] left his home in Mamre with the hope that the roads leading to Bellville would be closed because of his bomb threats. They were not, and he worked the whole day,' said Ntabazalila. Fortuin faced four counts under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004 (POCDATARA) and one count under the Explosives Act 26 of 1956. The prescribed minimum sentence for such offences is 15 years' direct imprisonment. However, as a first-time offender who pleaded guilty, and showed remorse Fortuin received a reduced five-year sentence. The NPA accepted the sentence but warned the public that anyone making similar threats will face severe consequences. 'The NPA will not hesitate to prosecute conduct of this nature to the full extent that the law allows,' Ntabazalila added. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
IOL News
08-08-2025
- IOL News
Ferdinand Fortuin receives five-year prison sentence for bomb threats in Cape Town
Ferdinand Fortuin was sentenced at the Bellville Regional Court for contravening the Terrorist Act after making a number of bomb threats at various sites in Cape Town last year. Image: Supplied Terrorist Ferdinand Fortuin will serve five years behind bars for his bomb threats made last year at various Bellville locations in Cape Town. On Thursday, August 7, Fortuin was sentenced in the Bellville Regional Court for contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA). Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani said Fortuin was arrested on November 15, last year, after he made bomb threats via cellphone calls. 'The sentence stems from his arrest by a multi-disciplinary team comprising the Hawks' Crimes Against The State, Western Cape Crime Intelligence, the Special Task Force, and SAPS Bomb Disposal. '(This arrest was) for participating in a plot where bomb threats were made last year, November, to the Community Service Centre at the Bellville SAPS by an unknown male, who threatened that explosive devices were placed at the Department of Water and Sanitation in Bellville, the Transnet Building in Bellville South, and Bellville Taxi Rank,' said Hani. The same threat was later made telephonically to the Road Traffic Emergency toll-free number on the same day. Hani said: 'The investigation by the Hawks' team revealed a cellphone number which was used in the commission of the offence and thereafter placed in a different handset. The suspect was subsequently identified, and a warrant of arrest was issued on 15 November 2024. A search and seizure operation was conducted in Mamre, where several evidential materials were seized.' Hani said two alternative counts (counts 3 and 5) were withdrawn after Fortuin pleaded guilty to the main counts. On Thursday, Fortuin was convicted and sentenced after having entered into a plea agreement with the State.
The South African
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Duduzile Zuma on July riots threat: 'Round 2 will be worse'
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla – the daughter of MK Party President Jacob Zuma – has threatened a 'round two' of July riots, after the party demanded the protection of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The political party is demanding the dismissal of Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu – who was placed on a leave of absence – amid claims he orchestrated a criminal syndicate. The party also wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to tender his resignation. In an Instagram post, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla pledged her allegiance to Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi once again. The daughter of the former president threatened to rally the MK Party into action if anything happened to the KZN provincial police commissioner. Posting a flier for the party's protest march, which occurred on Friday, 18 July, she shared: 'Once they touch him, kuzonyiwa. Round two will be worse. Let's protect this man'. Earlier this month, she defiantly posted: 'Let them touch you. We're ready for round two!'. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has pledged allegience to KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Images via Instagram: @duduzilezuma_sambundla Duduzile is referring to claims she incited violence through her social media posts during the July 2021 riots. During the civil unrest, the 42-year-old former housewife retweeted several videos of the violence and looting, which was a direct reaction to her father's incarceration on contempt-of-court charges shortly before. Duduzile is charged with contravening the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) and incitement to commit violence. She will appear in the Durban High Court again on 14 August. During the protest march in Pretoria on Friday, Duduzile-Sambudla Zuma and other MK Party members demanded that action be taken to protect Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Their list of demands included: Arrest of Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu Police file dockets of political killings should be returned to the Special Task Force Arrest of those implicated by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, including deputy national commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation MK Party national organiser Joe Ndlela handed over a memorandum at the Union Buildings and told the crowd that they were giving the government '14 days to respond.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
