‘I don’t feel betrayed by my father’ — Zuma-Sambudla breaks silence on MK expulsion

Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma

Johannesburg – Former uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has rejected claims that she contributed to the party’s internal problems following her expulsion, saying she blames those around the leadership for what she described as the party’s “implosion”.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Zuma-Sambudla said she does not accept responsibility for the party’s current challenges. “I do blame the people around the leadership [of the party],” she said.

She also dismissed suggestions that she had been betrayed by her father, MK Party leader Jacob Zuma, following her removal from the party. “I, again, blame the people around him,” she said, adding that she had not yet discussed her expulsion with her father.

“We’re scheduled to be with him next week, so we’ll probably have a discussion about it then,” she said.

The MK Party announced on Thursday that Zuma-Sambudla and former national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela had been expelled following what it described as a series of actions, public statements and activities that undermined the party.

Zuma-Sambudla was accused of weakening party unity and promoting factional narratives through her public comments and social media activity, while Ndhlela was accused of holding media briefings without approval and misrepresenting party positions.

The two also faced criticism over the transfer of MK member Muzi Ntshingila to another hospital without his family’s knowledge, The Citizen reported.

Ntshingila died on 4 June after a prolonged illness. His sister, Ayanda Ntshingila, said he was moved from LenMed Hospital in Lenasia to Sandton Mediclinic with the family’s consent.

Ndhlela, meanwhile, said he and Zuma-Sambudla had been undermined within the party and claimed there were efforts to distance them from Jacob Zuma.

“As the inaugural spokesperson of the organisation, every media briefing and public communication was either approved or undertaken at the instruction of the president,” he said.

Ndhlela said the pair would challenge their expulsions in the High Court, arguing that the party failed to follow proper procedures.

“Any decision taken outside of the procedures prescribed by the [MK party’s] constitution is, in our respectful submission, unlawful, invalid and of no force or effect,” he said.

Article written by