A former manager at a retail store in Durban is today expected to continue to testify in the trial of the alleged instigator of the July 2021 civil unrest, Bonginkosi Khanyile.

Siphiwe Gumede earlier informed the court that he noticed that Khanyile was addressing employees and customers without permission.

Gumede also said security had to be called to remove Khanyile from the premises.

Gumede said the riots followed two days later and his shop was also looted.

Khanyile accused is out on bail of R5 000. He faces charges including incitement to commit public violence and contravention of the Disaster Management Act.

The state alleges that Khanyile incited violence when he called for former president Jacob Zuma to be released from jail after he started serving a sentence for contempt of court for failing to appear before the State Capture Commission.

The unrest began in KZN and spread to parts of Gauteng resulting in widespread looting and destruction of property running into billions of rands.

Report on court yesterday’s court proceedings in the report below: