Police minister lauds conviction of July unrest instigator

Share the Article:

Police minister Bheki Cele has applauded detectives who worked in the case of convicted July unrest instigator Mdumiseni Khetha Zuma.

Thirty six-year-old Zuma has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Pietermaritzburg regional court on Wednesday for his role in the deadly violence which happened in July 2021.

The unrest claimed the lives of over 300 people and resulted in the destruction of property, worth billions of rands in the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

Zuma was convicted for contravening Sections 17 and 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act, where he posted on WhatsApp, provocative messages inciting people to gather and commit public violence, targeting the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg in KZN.

ALSO READ | ‘Nonsense,’ says ANC on reports of Zuma distancing himself

During the unrest, the mall was looted and burnt to the ground adversely affecting thousands of community members.

Speaking at the sidelines of the INTERPOL 91st Annual General Meeting hosted on Vienna, Police minister Bheki Cele welcomed the sentence and the detective work that has led to the sentencing.

[WATCH] Police Minister hails the @SAPoliceService detective work that has led to the direct imprisonment of Mdumiseni Khetha Zuma, one of the #Instigators of violence during the #JulyUnrest which claimed the lives of over 300 people in the Gauteng & KZN provinces in 2021. pic.twitter.com/6ALjQZTQrf

— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) November 29, 2023

“The Detective work gives us hope that the outstanding suspects will receive similar fate especially with the escalated charges for instigators and this sentence clearly illustrates that the long arm of the law will not be selective nor will it be kind,” concluded Cele.

As police investigations continue, Cele added that the Ministry anticipates that more suspects who had a hand in the wanton destruction of property and loss of life during the July unrest, will be brought to book.