By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The case against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, has been postponed for a pre-trial conference.
Zuma-Sambudla appeared briefly at the Durban High Court, where the case was postponed until 14 August.
She faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and two additional counts of incitement to commit public violence related to her alleged role in the July riots.
The state alleges that between June 29 and July 17, 2021, primarily in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, she used social media posts to intentionally incite others to commit acts of violence and terrorism.
During the bail hearing, Zuma-Sambudla said the case against her is politically motivated. She questioned why the state took over three years to prosecute her if she was involved in the July 2021 unrest that swept through the country, resulting in at least 350 deaths, costing the economy R50 billion, and leaving nearly two million people jobless.
In her affidavit, Zuma-Sambudla denied the charges, asserting that her posts did not cause the violence. She testified that the charges were malicious and politically motivated, adding that it was “nonsensical and petty to say that people were influenced by my commentary”.
“The fact that it has taken the NPA four years to bring these charges indicates a weak case, “she wrote.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga expressed optimism that proceedings would move forward at the next hearing.
“Hopefully by the 14th of August, all ducks will be in a row so that the matter can proceed,” Mhaga stated.
He added, “We are hoping that there won’t be any application brought forward that could delay the progress of the trial to its conclusion.”
Mhaga also emphasised that the state is prepared to proceed to trial, as investigations have been completed.
“We have always been ready as the prosecution in the matter. We disclosed the contents of the police docket in order for them to prepare for trial.
MK Party chair Nathi Nhleko believes Zuma-Sambudla will beat terrorism charges. “It will fizzle out. Why do you waste so much time and resources?” he asked.
Meanwhile the party has won its first ward in the Western Cape by defeating the African National Congress (ANC) and six other parties who contested the by-election in the Saldanha Bay municipality.
The victory came as a surprise in a province where the party doesn’t garner much electoral support, as the party takes over the ward held by the ANC.
The party didn’t perform well in the province during last year’s provincial elections and failed to secure a single seat in the provincial legislature.
The Saldanha Bay by-election saw the MK Party taking 36% of the vote, followed by the ANC at 26% and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) giving a strong showing with 19%.
Eight political parties contested the by-election which saw the Democratic Alliance managing just over one percent of the vote in the ward.
MK councillor, Mzwandile Biko, takes over the seat previously held by the ANC since local government elections in 2021.
The by-elections’ voter turnout was 55.30% compared to the 2021 local government election voter turnout of 48.08%, according to the IEC.
MK Party secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, took to social media to celebrate the victory, saying the “MK affirmed its presence in Saldanha Bay Municipality” and the party would win decisively at the next by-elections on 2 April.