GOOD Statement by Brett Herron ,
GOOD Secretary-General
30 January 2025
Three and a half years after the fact, the GOOD Party welcomes the indictment brought against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla for her role in inciting the horrific violence experienced in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng during July of 2021.
Zuma-Sambudla faces charges of Incitement to commit Terrorism, and two counts of Incitement to commit Public Violence and will appear before the Durban High Court on 20 March 2025.
The riots brought the country to its knees, costing over 300 lives and more than R50 billion in damage to our struggling covid-hit economy.
We are hopeful that the length of time that has passed and the severity of the charges brought by the state are due to the strength of the case against her.
We reject the narrative that she is being charged to settle a political score.
In the aftermath of the riots, I handed over evidence to the Hawks implicating over 100 alleged instigators of this violence.
Whistleblowers in the ANC, provided me with evidence relating to three predominantly KZN-focused WhatsApp groups named “Ethekwini Shutdown”, “Ink Shutdown 10/07/2021”, and “Free Zuma Information” and later further information relating to a Gauteng WhatsApp group named “Joburg Activists Home”.
It was clear from the posts and comments in these WhatsApp groups that the riots were instigated in retaliation for the incarceration of Duduzile’s father, the former president and now Leader of the MK Party, Jacob Zuma.
There were also indications of “hidden hands” – those not on the groups who had been the masterminds behind the violence.
The appearance of Zuma-Sambudla in court is the first sign of the alleged masterminds being brought to book.
While this has been an excruciatingly slow process, we are cautiously optimistic that this is the first of many such cases. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done.
The July 2021 unrest must be a reminder to us all how easily the inequality of South Africa can act as a tinder box to instigate lawlessness. No one should be allowed to exploit that vulnerability for their own political gain.
We cannot rest until all the instigators face the might of the law. Nor can we ignore the persistent failure of government to address rampant poverty and inequality.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General
Cell: 082 5183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 083 5509875
Email: samantha@forgood.org.za