KwaZulu-Natal — A severe MK Party internal crisis has erupted following the dramatic expulsion of founding member Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and the suspension of former national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. The unprecedented disciplinary actions, which target the daughter of party leader Jacob Zuma, highlight profound structural fractures and factional warfare within the official opposition just as they prepare for the upcoming local government elections.
Executive Decrees and a Vacuum of Elected Leadership
The disciplinary measures were formally announced by uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Secretary-General Sibonelo Nomvalo, who cited irreparable differences and conduct that fundamentally contradicts the organization’s constitutional principles, discipline, and core values.
Because the party currently lacks democratically elected structures, these massive organizational shifts are not the result of a central committee vote. Instead, insiders confirm that the presidential decrees are driven and signed off directly by MK Party President Jacob Zuma himself.
The fallout has been brewing for months. Zuma-Sambudla was already reduced to an ordinary party member after she stepped down from her role as an MK Member of Parliament last year. That resignation followed a public scandal in which she was accused of recruiting young men to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war—an act for which she initially expressed remorse.
The Funeral Dispute That Triggered the Fallout
While factional tensions were already high, the immediate catalyst for the expulsions was the handling of the late Muzi Ntshingila’s affairs. According to Secretary-General Nomvalo, Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela allegedly moved the ailing politician from a hospital while he was in poor health, entirely without the approval of his family.
Furthermore, the pair reportedly entered Ntshingila’s parliamentary residence and removed his personal belongings without authorization. The deceased’s family formally complained to the party leadership, arguing that the unauthorized actions brought the funeral processes into disrepute and demanded that the two individuals be cautioned. The party ultimately decided that drastic disciplinary steps were required.
Warnings of Parallel Structures and Democratic Deficits
The MK Party’s national chairperson emphasized that removing the president’s daughter was a necessary measure to prevent the party from fracturing internally ahead of the local government polls. However, the organization is grappling with severe institutional instability. Formed a mere four months before the 2024 national elections, the party has already cycled through eight different secretary-generals.
Compounding this instability is a distinct reluctance to hold internal democratic elections for leadership positions. Party leadership fears that members who lose internal contests might simply break away and form rival factions.
These fears of splintering are already materializing. Zuma-Sambudla recently alleged that breakaway factions were holding secret meetings in Hillcrest and across KwaZulu-Natal, plotting to force out founding members and ultimately oust her father. Echoing these concerns, Nomvalo warned against the rise of parallel structures, specifically pointing to an unsanctioned Youth League gathering in Limpopo that celebrated Youth Day outside the approval of the official party hierarchy.
Digital Defiance and the “Family Business” Narrative
In the wake of her expulsion, Zuma-Sambudla launched a fierce digital counterattack on X (formerly Twitter). She dismissed the party’s claims as “fictional narratives” and alleged that certain current leaders are entirely ignorant of the MK Party’s constitution. In a move that further defied the party’s official communication channels, she directed all media and public inquiries to Nhlamulo Ndhlela, positioning the suspended former spokesperson as the mouthpiece for her faction.
The high-profile exits have reignited criticisms that the MK Party operates as a “family business.” The organization’s upper echelons are heavily populated by the Zuma family, including Jacob Zuma, his daughter, and her twin brother, who serves on a presidential task team. Speculation is also mounting that the twin, Duduzane Zuma, is being groomed to become the party’s next deputy president.
Party leadership, however, vehemently denies that nepotism dictates their disciplinary processes. To prove that no one is above the law, they have pointed to the previous disciplinary actions taken against high-profile recruits like Floyd Shivambu, arguing that all members are held to the same strict standards regardless of their proximity to the president.
Succession Anxieties and Upcoming Street Protests
The ongoing turmoil has cast a shadow over the party’s long-term succession plans and voter perception. Questions regarding Jacob Zuma’s capacity to lead have been amplified by a recent viral video showing the former president struggling to dance and appearing physically frail.
Zuma is also battling multiple legal challenges. Most recently, he approached the Constitutional Court to challenge a high court ruling that ordered him to repay R28 million in public funds spent on his legal fees. Analysts note that relying on a single, aging leader facing heavy legal burdens is a risky strategy, making the expulsion of potential future leaders even more damaging.
Despite the internal bleeding, the party is attempting to project unity on the national stage. Nomvalo confirmed that the MK Party will officially join the June 30 street protests organized by an independent group, rallying against illegal immigration in South Africa.
As the MK Party heads into the local government elections, its ability to retain its status as a dominant political force will depend on its capacity to heal these deep internal wounds and build a sustainable leadership structure beyond its founding figures.