The Pietermaritzburg Magistrates' Court sentenced Mdumiseni Zuma to 12 years imprisonment for his influence in the looting and burning of the Brookside Mall in KwaZulu-Natal. He was found guilty of contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act. The Minister of Police General Bheki Cele welcomed the sentencing of the security guard who participated in the July 2021 unrest.

A SERIOUS MATTER

Zuma was arrested in August 2021 after a video of him instructing people to loot and burn Brooklyn Mall on his WhatsApp status trended. Although he claimed it was a drunk prank, the court found him guilty and convicted him in September with the state highlighting that over 100 000 jobs were lost, 350 people died in various provinces and at least R50 billion in infrastructure damages were recorded due to the unrest. Delivering the sentence Magistrate Morn? Cannon emphasised that the offence was a serious one and the accused has to account for his actions. This, despite, the fact that there isn't any evidence that Zuma was directly involved in the looting or the arson. "Plainly put, the accused must be sentenced as though he personally set the Brookside Mall on fire. The accused's actions had far-reaching consequences. Not only was the Brookside Mall set alight, lives and livelihoods were lost". Morn? said the sentence is meant to send a message to others who might think of committing similar crimes.

THE SENTENCE WELCOME

Cele welcomed the sentence and the detective work that led to the sentencing, Speaking at the INTERPOL 91st Annual General Meeting in Austria, Vienna, Cele said that the detective work gives the police hope that the outstanding suspects will receive a similar fate. "This sentence clearly illustrates that the long arm of the law will not be selective nor will it be kind. As police investigations continue, the Ministry anticipates that more suspects who had a hand in the destruction of property and loss of life during the July unrest will be brought to book," Cele added.