Court debates whether Zuma-Sambudla’s Tweets fueled July 2021 unrest
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is currently on trial in the Durban High Court.
Image: Willem Phungula
In the ongoing trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla in the Durban High Court, her lawyers and the State have asked the judge to make a ruling on the admissibility of the value of the reactions from the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) MPs' followers.
Zuma-Sambudla is accused of inciting terror and public violence linked to the July 2021 unrest.
The State wants the reaction to the content posted by Zuma-Sambudla to be taken into consideration, as it argues its case of incitement of public violence; however, the defence objected, saying some followers could not be traced and cannot testify in court.
On Monday, Judge Mbuzeni Mathenjwa said that if the State wanted the value of content of the reaction to Zuma-Sambudla’s tweets to be determined, he would have to rule on the argument.
Zuma-Sambudla is on trial for terrorism and the incitement of public violence charges related to the deadly July 2021 unrest which led to more than 300 lives being lost and decimated the economy, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The prosecution team led by Advocate Yuri Gangai, questioned the intention of Zuma-Sambudla when posting the pictures and videos of the looting and violence during the July 2021 unrest.
Investigating officer Brigadier Janine Kollette Steynberg, a digital forensic investigator, gave evidence on Monday. She was specifically assigned to investigate the use of social media platforms in a crime against the state during the unrest.
Gangai asked Steynberg about the impact of Zuma-Sambudla's tweets.
Steynberg replied that the impact could be greater on the people being addressed on social media as they can always go back and read the message again.
Steynberg was called by the State to testify on the authenticity of the posts and whether they should be linked to Zuma-Sambudla.
"We need to know if the intention was not to incite public violence, (then) what was the reason for these posts,” Gangai said.
The trial continues.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za