Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s defence has challenged the investigating officer’s assessment of her role in South Africa’s July 2021 unrest, as cross-examination continued at the Durban High Court on Monday.
Advocate Dali Mpofu questioned KwaZulu-Natal serious and organised crime unit head Bheki Nazo about a statement in which Nazo had written that he believed Zuma-Sambudla was conspiring with others to cause rioting and looting. SABC News reported that Nazo accepted the word “belief” had been inserted by mistake and was not corrected. He said his view at the time had been suspicion.
The defence also questioned Nazo about complainant Sarah-Jane Trent’s work for private investigator Paul O’Sullivan. Mpofu suggested the complaint was politically motivated and asked whether Nazo would treat a statement from a concerned member of the public and one from a possible political rival in the same way. Nazo answered that he would, according to SABC News.
Zuma-Sambudla is charged with inciting public violence and terrorism over 28 social-media posts made in the 36 hours after her father, former president Jacob Zuma, was jailed for contempt of court in July 2021. The unrest that followed spread across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. The charges remain allegations before the court.
The cross-examination goes to how investigators assessed the complaint and formed their suspicions. The court will determine the weight of that evidence alongside the rest of the prosecution case and the defence’s challenges.
Source: SABC News.