The proceedings opened at the Durban High Court, where state prosecutors accused Zuma-Sambudla of using social media posts to mobilize acts of violence during the July 2021 disturbances. The unrest erupted shortly after the imprisonment of her father for ignoring a court directive linked to an anti-corruption inquiry, later expanding into widespread looting and destruction across parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Authorities estimate that more than 300 people died during the turmoil, which also caused economic losses estimated at around 50 billion rand.
Zuma, who served as president from 2009 to 2018, attended the court session in support of his daughter, sitting alongside senior members of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. The party, which he leads, made significant gains in the 2024 national elections, reshaping the country’s political landscape and reducing support for the African National Congress.
The state argues that several of Zuma-Sambudla’s online posts contributed to the escalation of violence. Her legal team has dismissed the accusations, saying the charges are politically motivated and lack substantive evidence.
The trial is expected to attract wide national attention, given the political sensitivities surrounding the 2021 events and the ongoing debates about accountability, inequality and public unrest in South Africa.