South Africa: Former President Zuma's daughter arrested on terrorism charges

South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter was arrested on Thursday and will face terrorism charges after appearing in front of a court over a case of anti-government rioting that rattled the country four years ago and resulted in the deaths of 354 people.

Duduzile Zuma—Sambudla, a member of South Africa’s opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP, is accused of inciting violence during the July 2021 riots.

According to the police, Zuma-Sambudla surrendered to authorities on Thursday to face charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, as well as for inciting violence.

A police spokesperson said, “The arrest is a result of a meticulous investigation by the Durban Crimes Against the State unit of the Serious Organized Crime Investigation, following the unrest that brought the country to a standstill in 2021.”

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The case against Zuma is based on a flurry of posts she made on X in 2021 allegedly asking anti-government protestors to cause more damage following country-wide unrest that began after her father was arrested.

After former President Zuma was imprisoned for defying a court order to testify in a corruption inquiry, angry mobs carried out widespread looting, arson, and property destruction. Over 5,000 people were arrested in connection with the unrest.

In July 2021, riots broke out in South Africa following Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment for refusing to testify before a judicial inquiry into state corruption during his nine-year presidency. The unrest, which caused billions of rands in damage to infrastructure, property, and businesses, was largely concentrated in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal.

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Daduzile’s father Jacob Zuma founded MKP in 2023 and within a year the young party managed to win almost 15 per cent of the vote in elections. The African National Congress, as a result, fell short of forming the majority.

The ANC subsequently established a 10-party coalition government, with the MKP emerging as the main opposition, actively challenging the new administration.