South Africa MK Party MP, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla with her father Jacob Zuma. Photographer: Leon Lestrade / Independent Newspapers.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) Member of Parliament, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has issued a public apology to her father, President Jacob Zuma, and the party's leadership for using profanity in a recent social media rant aimed the party's Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu.
In her apology letter, Zuma-Sambudla acknowledged that her public grievances were "unfortunate" and may have undermined the party's unity, discipline, and respect although she notably did not apologise to Shivambu.
In some of her scathing tweets about Shivambu, she wrote, “You are the worst thing that has happened to the MK Party”.
Zuma-Sambudla hinted in her posts that she was protecting those that had joined the MKP, prior to Shivambu’s arrival.
In another post on X she wrote: “Commanders of 16 December 2023, the real co-founders of the MK… I hear you, loud and clear. I stand with you 100%. I will not forsake you”.
The MK Party had given Zuma-Sambudla an ultimatum to apologise or face expulsion over her posts, which were seen as a direct violation of the party's Disciplinary Code of Conduct.
In a statement issued after midnight on Tuesday, the party warned Zuma-Sambudla that if she failed to comply with the directive then this would result in immediate consequences, including the summary termination of her membership.
This included recalling all her party responsibilities.
“uMkhonto weSizwe Party is a movement of the people, grounded in maximum discipline and strict adherence to the Disciplinary Code of Conduct. No member, regardless of position, is above the Constitution of uMkhonto weSizwe,” the MKP said.
Later on Tuesday, Zuma-Sambudla issued an apology for her social media rant.
“I hereby extend this unconditional public apology to President Zuma and UMkhonto WeSizwe Party leadership for the profanity used in my recent posts on X. While I hold strong and personal views, including serious concerns about internal party matters, my perceptions of how certain issues may be handled within the organisation, especially by the Party’s Secretary General, I fully recognise that such concerns should have been, and shall be addressed through the proper internal channels, as dictated by the core values and principles of the glorious movement of the people.”
She expressed her commitment to upholding the party's values and ideals.
“To President Jacob Zuma of the MK Party, the entire leadership, members, supporters of the MKP, and the people of South Africa, I wish to assure you that I never intended to harm the integrity of the party or the values it upholds. Hence, my deepest apology for any offence caused in this regard,” she wrote.
Shivambu has been at the centre of controversy within the party, with some regions calling for his removal due to concerns over his leadership style and decision-making.
In her make or break fight with Shivambu, Zuma-Sambudla appears to have the backing of senior leaders and regions in KwaZulu-Natal.
A senior MKP member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said as much as he did not support Zuma-Sambudla for hurling insults, she had raised issues that were being discussed among party members in KwaZulu-Natal.
The source said Shivambu had ‘angered many people by rewriting the party’s constitution without the mandate of the President or the party’.
He said many of them were shocked to see changes in the constitution without their knowledge or that of their leadership.
The source claimed there was also plot being hatched to remove Dr John Hlophe as deputy president of the party, to be replaced by Shivambu.
"People are not happy that they used their resources to put MKP where it is and for it to be taken over.
“Most of the people that are running the party, many of them in parliament, were not there when we campaigned for the party yet they are reaping the fruits that they did not have to sweat for. Duduzile is venting the frustration felt by the masses," said the source.
Zuma-Sambudla also received the backing of suspended party member Sthaniso Nkabinde.
Nkabinde was suspended alongside party legislature members Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa and Thobani Zuma. He was accused of standing for a by-election in ward 2 under Msunduzi Municipality without the party’s approval.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela did not respond to a request for comment.
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