Bheki Cele commends 12-year sentence for instigator of July unrest

The Ministry of Police celebrates the 12-year sentence of Mdumiseni Khetha Zuma. A key instigator of the violent insurrection that shook Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July 2021.

Zuma, aged 36, has been handed a 12-year sentence by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on 29 November 2023. For violating Sections 17 and 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act.

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On what basis is Zuma’s sentence determined?

His conviction stems from the dissemination of provocative messages on WhatsApp. Encouraging the gathering and perpetration of public violence, specifically targeting the Brookside Mall in Pietermaritzburg, KZN.

The ensuing chaos saw the mall being looted and razed to the ground. Causing widespread disruption and hardship for the local community.

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Minister of Police General Bheki Cele, speaking at the INTERPOL 91st Annual General Meeting in Vienna, expressed satisfaction with the sentence and commended the diligent detective work that led to this successful conviction.

“The detective work gives us hope that the outstanding suspects will receive a similar fate, especially with escalated charges for instigators. This sentence illustrates that the long arm of the law will not be selective nor kind,” said Cele.

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Investigations are still ongoing

As police investigations persist, the Ministry anticipates further arrests, aiming to hold accountable those responsible for the extensive destruction of property and loss of life during the tumultuous events of July 2021.

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