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 that he aimed to incite others to commit public violence.
Representing the State, Senior State Advocate Yuri Gangai led the evidence of video footage, audio clips and the testimony of a guard who worked at the mall.
In aggravation of sentence, Gangai led the testimony of the manager of the mall.
The manager said the estimated damage caused by the looting and fire was approximately R500 million and stated that the mall serviced five different communities, as well as about 5 000 people who collected their SASSA grants there, all who were adversely affected by the burning down of the mall.
Zuma was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for count one (two years of which are suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offences during the period of suspension).
He was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment (two years of which are to run concurrently with count one), resulting in an effective sentence of 12 years direct imprisonment.
NPA spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara said that while the NPA in KZN has finalised several cases in respect of the July 2021 unrest, this is the first conviction where an individual has been convicted and subsequently sentenced for inciting the unrest.
“We hope that this sentence serves as a deterrent to others who intend on engaging in similar offences. We commend the working relationship between the DPCI KZN and the Prosecution,” said Ramkisson-Kara.
Earlier this year Mduduzi Buthelezi, Sphelele Mazibuko, Mandla Ngcobo, John Thobela and Sabelo Shandu, were sentenced following their arrest in Chesterville in 2021 with a bakkie full of meat after police in the area were conducting stop and search operations.
A few months ago, the Durban Regional Court sentenced Mbuso Moloi, the so-called Woolworths looter, to a three-year prison sentence, which is wholly suspended for five years. He is subjected to 18 months of correctional supervision under house arrest.
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