The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party has publicly rebuked Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla for her tirade against its Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu and instructed her to publicly apologize or be expelled.
The rare rebuke of MKP President Jacob Zuma’s daughter and MP came after she took to X (Twitter) and attacked Shivambu, in what appears to be part of internal power struggles for the soul of the party.
The statement was issued by former president Zuma on Tuesday, February 11 Zuma-Sambudla said Shivambu, the former EFF Deputy President who joined the MKP in September last year, was the “worst thing” to have ever happened to South Africa’s official opposition.
In a series of overnight posts, Zuma-Sambudla started by mocking members who joined the MKP recently, calling them mafikizolos (journey come lates).
She said she stood by those who joined the party when Zuma officially launched it on December 16, 2023, saying those were the “real co-founders”. Zuma-Sambudla said the real co-founders
When one MKP member responded and reminded her that members “who joined in December 2013 are as important as members who joined on February 10 2025”, Zuma-Sambudla turned against Shivambu, calling on him to call his “minions” to order.
In one X post, Zuma-Sambudla called Shivambu “Mafikizolo (a late comer)”, confirming rumours that there are tensions between the two.
“Floyd I’m Not Scared Of YOU!!! Tell Your Minions To … Bloody Mafikizolo’s (sic),” she posted on X.
In other posts she used expletives and strong language against Shivambu. In her last post, Zuma-Sambudla said she expected the MKP to expel her but that would not change the fact that Shivambu is “useless”.
“They Will Expel Me Tomorrow…It Is Well With My Soul. OKSALAYO FLOYD IS USELESS!!!”
The MK Party stepped in the thick of the night and told Zuma-Sambudla to behave.
In a statement issued by former President Zuma himself, the MKP said Zuma-Sambudla’s posts were insulting and unacceptable.
“The uMkhonto weSizwe Party acknowledges the recent public posts on X made by MK Member, Commander Duduzile Zuma. These posts are insulting towards the Secretary General of uMkhonto weSizwe Party, constituting a direct violation of the Party’s Disciplinary Code of Conduct.
“Such actions are unacceptable, divisive, denigrating, and offensive. They undermine the principles of unity, respect, and discipline that are fundamental to the values of uMkhonto weSizwe Party,” the party said.
It then gave timelines of what Zuma-Sambudla should do.
“In response, the President of uMkhonto weSizwe Party, President Jacob Zuma, has issued the following directives: Commander Duduzile Zuma must issue an unconditional public apology to theSecretary General, the President, members, supporters of uMkhonto weSizwe, and all the people of South Africa”
“She must also extend formal apologies to all structures she serves in or leads, including the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament. These apologies must be made immediately. Following this, an internal disciplinary process will be initiated in accordance with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party Constitution, Code of Conduct and all relevant prescripts,” the party said.
The MKP added that failure to comply with this directive will result in immediate consequences, including the summary termination of Zuma-Sambudla’s membership in uMkhonto weSizwe Party and her recall from Parliament and other party responsibilities.
