The trial of 62 people accused of orchestrating the deadly July 2021 unrest is expected to get underway in the Durban High Court on Monday after being delayed by legal representation issues.
The accused face a range of serious charges, including incitement to commit public violence, terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder. All 62 are currently out on strict bail conditions pending the trial.
Proceedings were initially scheduled to begin last week but were postponed after it emerged that several of the accused had not secured legal representation.
The case stems from the widespread unrest that swept through parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021, triggering days of looting, arson and violence.
The unrest claimed the lives of 354 people and is estimated to have caused approximately R50 billion in damage to South Africa's economy, making it one of the country's most devastating episodes of civil unrest.