Mpofu Turns Up the Heat on Top Cop in Duduzile Zuma Case

Advocate Dali Mpofu is back in the Durban High Court today, ready to put investigating officer Colonel Bheki Nazo through more tough questions in the trial of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence. The state says her social media posts during the July 2021 unrest helped spark the violence and looting that rocked KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng after her father’s arrest.

Yesterday, Mpofu already challenged Nazo hard. He pointed out that Nazo once wrote he “believed” Zuma-Sambudla was conspiring to cause the riots. Nazo later admitted he used the wrong word and it was only suspicion. Mpofu also asked if Nazo knew the original complainant, Sarah-Jane Trent, works for private investigator Paul O’Sullivan – a man Mpofu called a friend of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an enemy of Jacob Zuma. The defence is arguing the whole case smells of politics.

Court also heard there is no clear proof that Zuma-Sambudla funded any of the groups involved in the unrest. Phone records and bank details showed nothing solid linking her to the chaos.

Today Mpofu continues the cross-examination. Supporters of Zuma-Sambudla hope he will keep poking holes in the state’s case. The trial is set to run until early November. Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty and says her posts were never meant to start violence.

South Africans are watching closely. This high-profile case keeps raising big questions about free speech, politics, and justice five years after the deadly unrest.

Source:https://x.com/SABCNews/status/2114983090275623328

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