The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party expelled Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and Nhlamulo Ndhlela with immediate effect on Thursday [1].
The move signals a deepening internal crisis within the party, as it removes high-profile figures including the daughter of the party's founder and a former spokesperson.
Party officials said the expulsions occurred because the actions and statements of Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela conflicted with party rules [2]. The party said these actions undermined unity, discipline, and cohesion [2].
Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo said national officials considered the actions before the decision was made [2]. Other reports indicate that MK Party president Jacob Zuma fired his daughter and the former spokesperson [3].
Discrepancies exist regarding the specific triggers for the removals. Some reports state that the pair were found guilty of violating the party's constitution [4], while others suggest the expulsions were tied to unsanctioned actions taken before and after the death of a party member of parliament [3]. Additional accounts attributed the decision to a defiance of party unity [5].
The expulsions were formalized on June 18, 2026 [1]. The MK Party headquarters in South Africa served as the center for the administrative action [5].
“The MK Party expelled Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and Nhlamulo Ndhlela with immediate effect”
The expulsion of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of Jacob Zuma, suggests that the MK Party is prioritizing institutional discipline and centralized control over familial ties. By removing both a family member and a former spokesperson simultaneously, the party is likely attempting to purge internal dissent and consolidate power under the presidency to avoid further fragmentation.
