Former South African President Zuma’s Daughter Arrested on Terrorism Charges

The daughter of ex-South African President Jacob Zuma has been arrested on terrorism charges, sparking widespread reactions. 

A daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday to face charges related to terrorism.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a member of the South African Parliament, faces accusations of inciting violence during the July 2021 riots that resulted in over 350 deaths.

According to police, Zuma-Sambudla voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Thursday. She is facing charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act as well as charges for incitement to commit violence.

“The arrest resulted from a thorough investigation conducted by the Durban Crimes Against the State unit of the Serious Organized Crime Investigation, following the unrest that immobilized the country in 2021,” stated police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo.

Her political party confirmed that Zuma-Sambudla is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

The case against Zuma-Sambudla arises from posts she made on Twitter, now known as X, in which she allegedly encouraged protesters to inflict further damage during the nationwide unrest that followed her father’s imprisonment.

Former President Zuma was incarcerated for refusing to comply with a court order requiring him to testify at a corruption inquiry. In the aftermath, enraged crowds participated in extensive looting of stores, acts of arson, and property destruction. Over 5,000 individuals were arrested as a result.

The riots, lasting over a week, represented some of the most intense unrest in South Africa since the conclusion of apartheid and white minority rule in 1994. Zuma-Sambudla faced accusations of inciting these disturbances to show support for her father. However, a subsequent investigation revealed that frustration and poverty during South Africa’s stringent COVID-19 lockdowns also contributed significantly to sparking the violence.

Jacob Zuma served as president from 2009 until 2018, when he faced pressure to resign from the African National Congress party due to corruption allegations. His resignation initiated a continuing political conflict with his successor, current President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Jacob Zuma was expelled from the ANC last year and now heads a new political party named the MK Party, which emerged as the official opposition after last year’s national election.

His daughter, Zuma-Sambudla, has risen to a prominent position within the MK Party and serves as one of its lawmakers. The party has been encouraging members to show their support for Zuma-Sambudla during her appearance at Durban Magistrates Court in KwaZulu-Natal’s eastern province, an area where Jacob Zuma enjoys considerable backing. According to South African media reports, police are maintaining high alert status in the city.

Nearly four years after the riots, charges were brought following an extensive forensic investigation. Zuma-Sambudla had long been accused of inciting some of the unrest through her social media posts.

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela stated that she has prepared herself due to numerous threats of her imminent arrest over the past three or four years. “She is ready and will comply with the law as a responsible citizen,” he said.