Cape Town – Jacob Zuma is scheduled to testify in defence of his daughter, Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla, as her trial in the Durban High Court resumes next week.
Zuma-Sambudla faces three counts of incitement to commit terrorism and two counts of incitement to commit public violence.
The State alleges that her social media activity during the unrest encouraged the destruction of property and the disruption of essential services.
As stated by her legal representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu, the former president will be called as a key defence witness.
“My Lord, I will call President Zuma as my witness. He would dispute the testimonies that have been presented and prove that this case was politically motivated,” Mpofu told the court.
The prosecution indicated it intends to call a cellphone-data expert to trace how video clips and images shared by Zuma-Sambudla were obtained and circulated online.
The expert is expected to testify about phone numbers and digital sources linked to the posts, in an effort to establish whether she had coordinated communication with others involved in the unrest.
According to testimony from one of the State’s witnesses, the complaint against Zuma-Sambudla was based on social media posts that were not independently verified before charges were laid.
Under cross-examination, the witness conceded that the case could carry political undertones but insisted that the posts amounted to incitement.
“If this is not incitement of violence, I do not know what it is,” the witness said.
The matter has been adjourned until Monday, when the defence is expected to begin leading its witnesses.
Zuma is set to testify alongside the cellphone-data expert who will continue the technical evidence.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
