DA welcomes action against Twitter instigators, calls on SAPS to show Zuma siblings the same fate

by Andrew Whitfield MP – DA Shadow Minister of Police

The DA calls on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to urgently expedite the arrests of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, Edward Zuma and Duduzane Zuma. In July, the DA laid criminal charges against the three Zuma siblings following comments on social media and the press encouraging and inciting violence following their father’s incarceration.

We have taken note of the action taken by the Hawks against social media influencer, Zamaswazi Majozi, for allegedly using her Twitter account to incite and ignite major rioting and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July.

Majozi has been identified as the person behind the @/_africansoil Twitter account and stands accused of distributing content that led to the looting and burning of Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. She has since appeared before the Germiston Magistrate’s Court and was granted R3000 in bail.

While the DA welcomes the arrest of individuals who are alleged to have either planned, orchestrated, or incited the looting, it seems that there are glaring disparities in the treatment of ordinary South Africans involved in the looting compared to those who are close to the political elite.

Despite the fact that the DA laid charges against the Zuma siblings and the fact that their tweets and comments are in the public domain for all to see, no action has been taken against them.

The Zuma siblings’ comments and statement were no less inflammatory than those allegedly made by Majozi and others and they should face the same legal consequences.

This smacks of double standards, and could lead to the conclusion that South African law is not implemented equally. The DA demands that all citizens including the politically connected be punished to the same standard.

Law enforcement officials must pursue criminality without fear or favor to demonstrate that all South Africans are equal before the law and that all criminal offenses will be punished. To this end, we reiterate our appeal for the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to hold the Zumas to account to the fullest extent of the law.

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