Case against 62 alleged July unrest instigators ready for trial

The case of the 62 alleged July unrest instigators is trial ready.

The group is accused of planning and participating in the 2021 looting spree in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

They returned to the Durban High Court for a pre-trial conference on Monday morning.

They are charged with incitement to commit public violence and incitement to commit terrorism linked to the anarchy.

There were 65 people arrested in 2022; however, EWN has since learnt that 3 others have since passed away.

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Nearly five years since the July riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the public will learn more details on the anarchy when the matter goes to trial.

Prosecutors told the Durban High Court that they are ready to proceed.

The case has been set down for nearly two weeks in July.

“The matter appeared in the Durban High Court for trial today and it was declared trial ready; the trial now is set down for later this year, which is from July to September 2026,” said KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Ramkissoon Kara.

The State is expected to lead evidence from various witnesses, including crime experts and digital analysts.