Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has been charged with inciting violence during the 2021 riots that killed over 300 people.
Zuma-Sambudla, a member of parliament, appeared in court on Thursday and was released on a warning until another court appearance scheduled for March.
Prosecutors allege that Zuma-Sambudla incited others to commit acts of violence through social media posts in July 2021, after her father was arrested for disobeying a court order to testify at a corruption inquiry.
The unrest, which began as anger over Zuma’s jailing, turned into rage over poverty and inequality, leading to widespread looting, damage to public infrastructure, and loss of life.
The financial damage from the riots was estimated at 50 billion rand ($2.70 billion). Zuma-Sambudla’s lawyer said she would plead not guilty to the charges.
Her father, Jacob Zuma, accompanied her to court and has been a vocal supporter throughout the ordeal.
Zuma-Sambudla is a member of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, which was founded by her father after his departure from the African National Congress (ANC).
The MK party won 58 parliamentary seats in the last national election, contributing to a sharp drop in support for the ANC.
