Duduzane Zuma Summoned To Court On Culpable Homicide Charge

The former president's son is due in court on Thursday, July 12, but only his lawyer seems to know where he is.
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Although Duduzane Zuma — son of South Africa's former president — has received a summons to appear in court for culpable homicide, only his lawyer knows his whereabouts.

The lawyer, Gary Mazaham, confirmed to News24 that Zuma received a summons to appear in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on July 12 on two charges of culpable homicide. However, he added that Zuma "would like to" attend his late brother's funeral.

Vusi Nhlakanipho Zuma, who was the youngest son of the former president and his late wife Kate Mantsho, died on Sunday night after a short illness.

Mazaham was unable to give any information about his client's whereabouts.

The charges relate to a car accident that occurred in February 2014 in which Zuma rear-ended a taxi, after losing control of his Porsche on the Grayston Drive off-ramp on the M1, north of Johannesburg.

Phumzile Dube was killed instantly, while three others were injured.

A second woman, Jeanette Mashaba, died a couple of weeks later. However, during the inquest, it was found that her death was not a result of the accident, and that she died in hospital of natural causes.

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In July 2014, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute Zuma, citing insufficient evidence.

The NPA decided once again not to prosecute Zuma in August 2015, even though Magistrate Lalitha Chetty found prima facie evidence that his negligent actions had caused Dube's death.

Lobby group AfriForum gave the NPA an ultimatum at the end of last year to either prosecute Duduzane or release a nolle prosequi certificate, which would allow former NPA prosecutor Gerrie Nel, known as "the Pitbull", to prosecute him.

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NPA head Shaun Abrahams decided in April to prosecute the former president's son for culpable homicide.

NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed that Zuma has been summoned. He had been given until the end of March to make representations to say why he should not be prosecuted.

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