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Many shopping malls in Pietermaritzburg were vandalised.
The commander of the serious organised crime unit, Brigadier Msizi Nyuswa, says there are 274 cases that were opened during the 2021 July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. He was testifying in the Durban Regional Court during the trial of alleged unrest instigator, Bonginkosi Khanyile.
Nyuswa could not confirm as to how many of these cases led to successful prosecution.
About the video where Khanyile is alleged to have encouraged people to join the riot, Nyuswa stated that after watching the video, he realised the importance of investigating Khanyile’s utterances.
Two state witnesses were called to testify today, including the commander of the serious organised crime unit, Brigadier Msizi Nyuswa. He said situation in KwaZulu-Natal from the 07 to the 17th of July in 2021, was volatile. This was due to the looting at various businesses and trucks carrying goods which were burnt at Mooi River.
Many shopping malls in Pietermaritzburg were also set alight. During this time, many people lost their lives.
During Nyusa’s testimony, a video was played where Khanyile allegedly called on people to continue burning and blocking the roads. He said after watching it, he ordered the unit to investigate it as it was inciting violence.
Reflecting further on the 2021 riots, Nyuswa mentioned that other units including private security were called in to assist police. He says he cannot confirm if the burning of trucks and shopping malls started after or before Khanyile’s utterances.
Earlier, warrant officer Jo-Anne de Bruyn testified that in one of the video recordings of Khanyile which she transcribed, he had been making comments at a media conference before the 2024 general elections. She said, in the video, Khanyile threatened that there would be no elections if former President Jacob Zuma’s name was removed from the ballot papers.
Before the 2024 elections, a dispute arose over whether Zuma could stand as candidate for his newly-formed uMkhonto weSizwe party, due to his criminal conviction for contempt of court.
The Constitutional Court later ruled that Zuma’s picture would remain on the ballot as he was the leader of the MK Party, but that he wasn’t eligible to stand for election to the National Assembly.
Under cross-examination Warrant officer De Bruyn told the court that it was her understanding that Khanyile was making threats to incite violence.
The case continues on Friday.
July 2021 Unrest | Khanyile’s lawyers argue political speech
