Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla Accuses State of 'Stalingrad' Tactics as July 2021 Unrest Trial Postponed
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's Durban High Court trial has been postponed to late October amid her accusations against the state
- Zuma-Sambudla faces terrorism and incitement charges linked to social media posts during the July 2021 unrest
- State advocate Yuri Gangai previously described the case as being about the abuse of social media influence
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DURBAN — Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has accused the state of deliberately prolonging her terrorism trial, claiming it is using what she described as "stalingrant" tactics to frustrate her ahead of the next hearing, set for 26 October to 6 November.
Appearing before the Durban High Court for the continuation of proceedings, Zuma-Sambudla expressed growing impatience with how long the case has dragged on. "This case should've been over a long time ago, in fact it hasn't even started," she said.
"The system is all about frustration but I won't let them get to me."
Charges rooted in July 2021 unrest
Zuma-Sambudla faces charges of terrorism and incitement to violence stemming from social media activity during the July 2021 unrest, which erupted following the imprisonment of her father, former president Jacob Zuma. The state contends that her posts under the #FreeJacobZuma banner actively encouraged violent conduct, which it links to widespread destruction, the disruption of essential services, and significant economic losses.
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The trial formally commenced in the Durban High Court last year, with state advocate Yuri Gangai framing the matter as one concerning the consequences of unchecked social media influence.
"It is a case about the power of words, and the devastation that follows when influence is abused," Gangai said.
Complainant testified about extreme posts
During proceedings, fraud expert and complainant Sarah-Jane Trent testified that she opened a criminal case against Zuma-Sambudla after encountering posts she found deeply alarming during the unrest.
"In 2021, I became aware of Twitter (now X) posts which I saw as extreme," Trent said.
Trent's testimony placed Zuma-Sambudla's online activity at the centre of the prosecution's argument that her platform was used to inflame an already volatile national situation.
The case now adjourns until the end of October, with Zuma-Sambudla maintaining that the delays serve the state's interests rather than the pursuit of justice.
Zuma-Sambudla accused of trafficking
Briefly News also reported that the saga surrounding the 17 South African men who were lured to the Ukraine under false pretences has taken a new twist. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who was accused of being involved in the trafficking of the men, has stated under oath that she wasn’t the mastermind.Zuma-Sambudla has instead claimed that she was the victim of an elaborate deception, blaming Blessing Rhulani Khoza, a man she said she never met or even heard of before he contacted her via WhatsApp.
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Source: Briefly News
