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Duduzile used her status to incite violence, court hears

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The state witness said Duduzile’s posts were violent and encouraged people to follow suit

DUDUZILE Zuma-Sambudla used her status as she is the daughter of a former president to incite violence during the July 2021 unrest.

This is according to the second witness during the Duduzile trial in the Durban High court on Tuesday, 11 November.

Duduzile is the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma.

The second witness, Sarah-Jane Trent, who is a complainant, said by the posts that Duduzile wrote, she was inciting violence. She told court that she received a lot of complaints from people who were seeing the posts that were made by Duduzile on Twitter (now X).

"I went and saw the posts myself. I then realised that this was incitement and it's crime. I then decided to open a case against her," she said.

Former President Jacob Zuma was also in court to support Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla
Former President Jacob Zuma was also in court to support Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla (Mbali Dlungwana)

She said Duduzile's posts were violent and encouraged people to follow suit, saying there was continuous encouragement.

"There was a shutdown as she was literally calling on people to shut down government, shops and buildings," she said.

State prosecutor, Yuri Gangai told the court that they will submit a total of 32 videos as evidence.

In the first video, the witness explained that it's a video of a gunshot that was fired three times in the air.

"As the gun shots are fired, there is a song that is playing in the background. However, when I look at the video I see violence," she said.

The judge asked her if she knew what it meant, but she said it's violent. And the witness said to her understanding it was violent based on what she saw not heard.

Former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu was also in court to support Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla during her trial in the Durban High Court
Former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu was also in court to support Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla during her trial in the Durban High Court (Mbali Dlungwana)

A second video was played, and she said she saw burning of trucks. And a third one said she heard a man talking about seeing trucks and sugar cane burnt.

When Duduzile's representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu cross examined the witness and said none of the videos were inciting violence.

Mpofu cross examined the witness on each video and the witness ended up agreeing with him that none of the videos that were shown in court incite violence.

Mpofu also put it to the witness that this matter is politically motivated, but the witness denied it.

Mpofu asked the witness why in her statement she included that Duduzile is an associate of the Guptas. The witness said it's because it's known that she is. But Mpofu argued that at the time she was doing the statement on 13 July, she was not a director of the Gupta company.

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The witness said she is sure about what she wrote in the statement and it's true. Although Mpofu insisted that Duduzile said she wasn't, the witness still said at the time she was part of the Gupta company.

Meanwhile, Zuma, was in court and it also emerged that he will be a witness in this matter. Mpofu will continue to cross examine the witness on Wednesday, 12 November.

Mbali Dlungwana

Mbali Dlungwana

With so much experience in the industry, I have been able to cover crime stories, human interest and court stories. Such stories require hard work and dedication as they should always be factual and accurate, no shortcuts.

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