There is not a word in the statement by parliamentarian Duduzile Zuma-Sumbudla after her arrest and court appearance last week about the 350 people who died in the deadly July 2021 riots.
Instead, Zuma-Sumbudla mimics her father, Jacob Zuma’s victimhood over his legal woes, crying political conspiracy as she faces terrorism charges after allegedly egging on the violence that not only led to the loss of lives and livelihoods but also cost the economy dearly.
The riots followed Zuma senior’s incarceration. The Constitutional Court found him guilty of contempt for failing to appear before the commission of inquiry into state capture after he was summoned to do so.
The Zuma family have for too long cried political conspiracy to evade accountability for their alleged crimes. The case against Zuma-Sumbudla should be welcomed as an opportunity for her to clear her name.
It is the first sign that those responsible for co-ordinating and encouraging the looting, death and destruction in the wake of Zuma’s incarceration are being held to account for their role.
Zuma-Sumbudla’s assertion that the case against her is politically motivated is simply mimicking her father’s long-time, and admittedly successful, strategy to avoid accountability.
The Zuma family’s tired narrative should no longer fool SA.
The 350 South Africans who lost their lives in that fateful month deserve better.
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