THE Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday that it would lay criminal charges against Zuma’s children – Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Edward Zuma, Duduzane Zuma – and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema for incitement of violence and damage to businesses.
The party said following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma, there had been coordination and incitement of violence and anarchy by the Zuma children and the EFF leader.
DA’s MP Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach said for the past few days, Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma took to social media to post a number of tweets that encouraged and incited the violence and looting that has now destabilised KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and which is spreading to other parts of the country.
Over 757 people have arrested since the outbreak of violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The death toll has now risen to 45.
“These tweets follow utterances by Edward Zuma that law enforcement agencies would have to go through him before they arrest his father. These comments were both inflammatory and reckless,” said Breytenbach.
“There is also a video making the rounds on social media in which Duduzane Zuma wows to “fight” to get his father out of prison.”
Breytenbach said Malema, on the other hand, threatened to join the ‘anarchy’ on the streets if the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is deployed, and likened the deployment to a declaration war against civilians instead of an attempt to maintain law and order.
:We are also deeply disturbed by Malema’s racially charged remarks about the Indian community that have the potential to incite further racial tensions,” she said in a statement.
“Zuma-Sambudla and Malema, between them, have millions of followers on Twitter who could perceive these statements as literal.”
The DA urged the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, to act against the Zuma’s children and Malema to ensure that they are investigated criminally for incitement to commit violence and their talk of war.
“We cannot allow anyone to get away with this kind of reckless behaviour and make such sweeping statements with impunity. Failure to act will only embolden the Zumas and Malema to say and do what they want with no fear of consequence. The NPA and SAPS need to act against them now.”
- Inside Politics
