The Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla 2021 July unrest trial continues today at the KwaZulu-Natal Division of the High Court in Durban.
The proceedings follow a tense day of cross-examination as the defence sought to challenge the credibility of one of the State’s key witnesses.
The second State witness, fraud examiner Sarah-Jane Trent from Forensics for Justice, came under pressure from defence lawyer Advocate Dali Mpofu SC on Tuesday as he questioned her impartiality and the accuracy of her testimony.
Trent told the court she had opened a criminal case against Zuma-Sambudla during the height of the July 2021 riots after being “horrified” by social media posts she believed could fuel unrest.
The posts, shared with over 100,000 followers, included footage of protests, gunfire, and burning vehicles.
“Was this going to come to my doorstep? This needed to stop,” she said.
Mpofu challenged Trent’s objectivity, suggesting her statement was influenced by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan, the founder of Forensics for Justice, whom he described as an ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trent acknowledged they were colleagues but denied political bias, saying, “I am not aware of that. I only know of one meeting between them.”
The defence also pressed Trent on parts of her statement referencing Zuma-Sambudla’s alleged ties to the Gupta family, which she conceded were not relevant to the case.
Thirty-two videos shared by Zuma-Sambudla before and after the July unrest form part of the prosecution’s evidence that she “intentionally and unlawfully” incited public violence.
During questioning, Trent admitted that two of the videos did not depict violence, despite her earlier claims.
In one of the clips, members of the Amabutho regiments were seen singing outside a supermarket while holding traditional weapons. Mpofu argued that such imagery did not amount to criminal conduct, telling the court, “It is not a crime to carry traditional weapons.”
“I do not know that tradition and I can’t be blamed for not knowing. I see weapons,” Trent responded.
Another video showed a burning delivery truck with Zuma-Sambudla’s caption “we see you,” which the State claims was an expression of support for looting.
Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and a Member of Parliament for the MK Party, faces charges of incitement to commit public violence and contravention of terrorism-related laws.
She has pleaded not guilty, maintaining her posts were political commentary rather than calls to violence.
Today’s hearing will continue with further cross-examination of Trent before the State proceeds with its next witness.
Watch the live stream of the Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla trial below.
