Zuma sentenced to 12 years for his part in inciting violence during the 2021 July Unrests

Johnathan Paoli

THE Pietermaritzburg Regional Court sentenced Mdumiseni Zuma on Wednesday to an effective 12 years’ imprisonment following his conviction on contravening Sections 17 and 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, where he incited people to gather and commit public violence.

This relates to the looting of the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg during the civil unrest in 2021.

Zuma posted a video of himself inside a mall inviting people to loot should it be open for business the next day, and the mall was subsequently looted and set alight.

According to reports, Zuma admitted to the court during his trial that his actions might have persuaded many others to loot.

At the time, he worked as a security guard at the retail centre.

In his defence, Zuma claimed he was intoxicated when he made the video and he had meant for it to be taken as a prank.

He denied