The Durban High Court has adjourned the terrorism‑related trial of Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla until October to allow the State to prepare and disclose evidence from two additional witnesses and to provide transcripts to the defence. The trial is now expected to continue into the first week of November.
State to call two more witnesses
Court papers heard on Thursday confirmed the State's intention to call two further witnesses in the matter arising from the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu‑Natal and Gauteng. Zuma‑Sambudla, a former MP for the MK Party who has since been expelled from the party, faces charges linked to allegations that her social media posts contributed to the violence that claimed more than 300 lives.
The postponement allows the State time to prepare testimony from the two additional witnesses and to make court transcripts available to the defence team.
Defence and accused respond
Zuma‑Sambudla appeared composed in the dock during the brief hearing. When asked by reporters whether she would testify, she replied:
“Perhaps I will. Yeah, 100%. I think I just want to be done to be very honest.”
Her lawyer, Advocate Dali Mpofu, has previously argued in court that the prosecution is politically motivated and an attempt to settle scores linked to her father, former president Jacob Zuma. Those comments have formed part of the defence's broader line that the charges are driven by political considerations.
What the charges relate to
The charges against Zuma‑Sambudla are connected to the unrest of July 2021, when looting and violence spread across parts of KwaZulu‑Natal and Gauteng. Court documents and reporting associate her prosecution with allegations that certain social media posts contributed to the unrest. The State has classified the charges as terrorism‑related.
- Accused: Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla (formerly MK Party MP; expelled from the party)
- Allegations: Social media posts that the State says fuelled the July 2021 unrest
- Charges: Terrorism‑related (as set out by the State)
- Court: Durban High Court
- Next hearing: Postponed to October; expected to run into the first week of November
Local impact and public interest
The July 2021 unrest remains a sensitive chapter for many communities in KwaZulu‑Natal. More than 300 lives were lost during the period of violence and looting, and the case continues to attract attention because it ties questions of political speech, criminal responsibility and social media activity to the broader trauma of that period.
Legal observers will be watching the State's additional witnesses closely. The content and credibility of their testimony could shape the direction of the trial and any potential appeal. For residents and businesses affected by the 2021 unrest, the proceedings are part of a longer process of accountability and healing.
Practical notes for those following the trial
Observers should note:
- Court dates can be rescheduled; the matter will resume in October and is expected to extend into early November.
- The State has said it will provide transcripts to the defence — a standard procedural step that enables the accused to review evidence and prepare cross‑examination.
- Any further adjournments or the addition of more witnesses will be announced in court and recorded in the court roll.
What to watch for next
The key issues to monitor as the trial recommences will be the identity and testimony of the two additional witnesses, how the transcripts influence defence preparations, and whether Zuma‑Sambudla elects to give evidence in her own defence. The way the court deals with evidence related to social media posts will also be significant, as it bears on how online conduct is treated in criminal prosecutions arising from public unrest.
The case remains a high‑profile matter in KwaZulu‑Natal and nationally. As it moves back into full hearing, affected communities and legal commentators will be looking for clarity on both the facts and the legal standards applied.
