TWEETS by former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma Sambudla, took centre stage at the Durban High Court this morning where she is appearing in relation to the terrorism charges she faces after tweeting “we see you” and about radical transformation during the July 2021 civil unrest.

Zuma Sambudla, who is being represented by Advocate Dali Mpofu SC, faces three counts, including incitement to commit terrorism and public violence in relation to the July 2021 civil unrest. The matter will be heard until November 21 in front of Judge Mbuzeni Mathenjwa. Her tweets on the social media platform Twitter, now X, landed her in the dock, with her father Zuma and MK Party leaders like Mzwanele Manyi sitting in the gallery throughout today’s proceedings.

Giving evidence inside the witness box, the State’s first witness, the head of Hawks in Limpopo, Major General Gopal Govender, gave evidence for over three hours on his role during the civil unrest.  As the national co-ordinator of the investigation he was privy to the monitoring of social media platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Twitter where the burning and looting was allegedly being co-ordinated and controlled, nationally and abroad.

“There were active links traced to Cuba, in relation to the civil unrest,” said Govender.

Also Read: Terrorism accused Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla released on warning

As part of his statement, which was entered into evidence, there was a five-tier diagram detailing the level of threat and group of co-ordinators. Coloured in red, the “active link to Cuba” was top of the pyramid at level five.

“At level four is the politician, riot planners and national financiers. Level three were the enablers on social media platforms as well as branch and ward co-ordinators. Level two are the organisers, the executors and conspirators. Level one is the looters, arsonists, members of the community and protesters,” said Govender.

This was after he confirmed that a total of 164 WhatsApp groups were created between the dates of the Constitutional Court ruling on President Zuma’s contempt of court case to July 15, 2021. On the stand, Govender failed to link Zuma Sambudla to any of the groups and said that their focus on her was as a result of her tweets. One was made on the day after Zuma handed himself over to begin his sentence at the Estcourt Correctional Centre.

Also Read: R1b disbursed to KZN businesses post July civil unrest

The July 8, 2021 tweet read, “Cdes, you have not failed @presjgzuma @MYANC has. But you will fail him if the fight for Radical Transformation stops. You will fail him if the fight for Economic Freedom stops! So our struggle continues from the outside and we must intensify it…Amandla.”

The above and those made on July 09 and 10, made Zuma Sambudla a person of interest in a case which would eventually lead to her arrest four years later. “There was no links to the accused to the WhatsApp groups and no financials link,” said Govender, “Her tweets amounted to incitement.”

This was echoed by Advocate Yuri Gangai who said Zuma Sambudla used social media to incite violence and gave a public endorsement of destruction. “Words matter, they can build or burn if spoken by someone of influence. She fuelled the violence with her words while the country was burning. She spoke words that caused others to lose their lives and job from the comfort of her home,” said Gangai.

The trial continues tomorrow with a new witness taking the stand.

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