Zuma-Sambudla says situation in MK Party worse since her departure

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Former MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says her father’s party has deteriorated since she and former party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela left.

Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela were expelled from the MK Party in June after months of internal friction. The party found them guilty of violating its constitution, promoting factionalism, and creating competing centres of influence. Both have rejected the allegations and are challenging their expulsion in court.

In an interview with SMWX, Zuma-Sambudla said the party looks worse from the outside.

“I feel like things have gotten worse,” Zuma-Sambudla said. “Ndhlela and I have always been scapegoats for whatever agendas individuals and people around my father had. It’s not looking good from the outside. When you are outside, you’re actually like, gee … you have time to take it all in. If Ndhlela and I were the problem, why can’t you get it right?”

The MK Party is facing mounting internal and financial challenges ahead of the November local government elections. Recent concerns surrounding the health and hospitalisation of party leader Jacob Zuma have also raised questions about whether the organisation can hold together without his central authority.

Recently the party cancelled its “Siyathatha” manifesto launch rally scheduled for October 18, opting instead for an electronic manifesto distribution and grassroots campaigning.

Zuma-Sambudla stepped down as an MK Party MP in November 2025 prior to her formal expulsion. Addressing her dismissal, she believes both she and Ndhlela were targeted in what she described as a “witch hunt”.

“I don’t think they needed to be that harsh in whatever they had to say because I was not there anymore,” she said. “They vilified my friendship with our late friend, because when you read the statement that was read at our expulsion, it was about being a good friend to a comrade.”

Despite her expulsion, she maintains that she still views herself as a member of the MK Party. “In hopes that our court case is successful, we can be legally recognised, even though we still believe the expulsion doesn’t even stand.”

She also insisted that she does not feel betrayed by her father, while dismissing claims that she controlled the party from the shadows during her tenure.

“I’ve never liked that narrative, because you’re basically saying Zuma can’t think for himself when the MK Party is his brainchild, it belongs to him, the third-largest party in the country. I don’t think any of us could’ve woken up and done that. He is a man who can think for himself.”

She attributed the narrative to the fact that she was frequently seen by her father’s side, adding that she never held a formal leadership position within the party and only served as an MP.

“People were confused about the fact that I was around my father all the time. I was doing things for him, with him. There’s a difference between a position and just generally serving, and I was serving my father.”

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