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The daughter of ex- South African Head of State Zuma has entered a not guilty plea to terror charges at the start of her trial in the coastal city of the city of Durban.

The defendant, forty-three, is being charged over remarks she published on digital networks in the past during fatal protests in South Africa that followed the apprehension of her father.

A seven-day period of anarchy in several parts of the country in mid-2021, including looting and fire-setting, left at least 300 individuals dead and caused damage worth an estimated 2.8 billion dollars (£2.2 billion).

The defendant has been charged of fuelling this turmoil and confronts charges of encouragement to commit terror acts and public violence.

Background of the Proceedings

The demonstrations were focused in the areas of the Gauteng province and KwaZulu-Natal province and followed the former president's apprehension for defying a court order to testify at an investigation into accusations of corruption while he was in power.

The defendant has consistently refuted the accusations against her, with her attorney in the past describing the prosecution's evidence as weak.

She has also frequently claimed the accusations against her were an effort to resolve political disputes with her dad after he started his own political organization and ran against the ruling party.

Backing and Court Representation

This was reinforced by the foundation, which claimed the proceedings was an "power abuse" and a "systematic campaign" of "politically motivated and kinship harassment" against the previous head of state and his kin.

A handful of backers from her group, the political party, appeared outside the KwaZulu-Natal high court, while her parent and other organization officials were present at the hearings inside.

The defendant's representatives has stated that the evidence presented by the state is insufficient and lacks substantial proof for a criminal finding.

Central Elements of the Trial

• Digital comments from four years ago form the foundation of the state's evidence
• Violent protests in recent years resulted in major fatalities and economic destruction
• The individual on trial faces multiple counts of encouragement to violence
• Legal trials are projected to carry on for multiple days

The court case continues as the prosecution and defense present their arguments before the judicial authority in what is projected to be a highly monitored legal battle with substantial politically charged implications for South Africa.