The trial of 62 people accused of orchestrating the deadly July 2021 unrest has been postponed after legal representation issues delayed the start of proceedings in the Durban High Court.
The eight-week trial was due to commence on Monday, with senior State prosecutors expected to outline their case against the accused, who face allegations of coordinating the widespread riots and looting that engulfed parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The July 2021 unrest claimed the lives of more than 300 people, left thousands of businesses looted and destroyed, and caused billions of rands in economic damage.
Although all 62 accused appeared before the court, proceedings could not begin as scheduled after several defence attorneys withdrew from the matter. The court spent most of the morning addressing issues relating to legal representation.
Some of the accused arrived with newly appointed legal representatives, while others appeared without legal counsel and indicated that they would apply for Legal Aid.
As a result, the matter was postponed for one week to allow all the accused an opportunity to secure legal representation before the trial can proceed.
The State alleges that the accused coordinated the unrest through several WhatsApp groups, including one known as #FreeZumaCoordinators, which prosecutors claim was used to mobilise participants and coordinate acts of violence during the unrest.
The prosecution is expected to rely heavily on digital evidence, including WhatsApp messages and other electronic communications, once the trial gets underway.