Duduzile Zuma vs Floyd Shivambu
By Thabo Mosia
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has acted against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla for insulting Floyd Shivambu on X (formerly Twitter), instructing her to issue an immediate public apology or face expulsion from the party and recall from parliament.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s Explosive Attack on Floyd Shivambu
The internal power struggles within the MK Party have spilled into public view following a series of scathing remarks made by Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of party leader Jacob Zuma. In a series of posts on X, Zuma-Sambudla unleashed a verbal attack on MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu, calling him the “worst thing that happened to MK” and telling him to “F*** OFF.”
Her remarks have ignited a factional war within the party, raising serious concerns about internal unity ahead of South Africa’s upcoming elections. The highly publicised fallout has left political observers questioning the stability of the newly formed MK Party.
MK Party Responds: Apologise or Face Expulsion
The MK Party, led by Jacob Zuma, swiftly moved to contain the situation by issuing a public directive on Monday, 11 February 2025, instructing Zuma-Sambudla to issue an immediate public apology to Shivambu, the party leadership, and supporters of the party.
The directive, issued through an official party statement, declared that Zuma-Sambudla’s comments were “unacceptable, divisive, denigrating, and offensive.” The statement further asserted that her actions violated the MK Party’s Disciplinary Code of Conduct.
“Commander Duduzile Zuma must issue an unconditional public apology to the Secretary-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,” read the statement.
The party made it clear that failure to comply with this directive would result in “immediate consequences, including the summary termination of Commander Duduzile Zuma’s membership in uMkhonto weSizwe Party and her recall from all party responsibilities.”
The directive, coming directly from Jacob Zuma, reinforces the seriousness of the matter and signals a growing internal crisis within the party.
Factionalism and Power Struggles Erupt in Public
The feud between Zuma-Sambudla and Shivambu has been brewing for months, with tensions reaching a tipping point this week. Zuma-Sambudla has been vocal in her dissatisfaction with Shivambu’s leadership, accusing him of being an outsider who does not understand the real founding principles of the MK Party.
In a recent X post, Zuma-Sambudla wrote:
“Floyd, I’m not scared of you!!! Tell your minions to f** off… Bloody Mafikizolos (newbies).”*
Another tweet followed:
“F* you, Floyd… Worst thing that happened to MK.”*
She added:
“They will expel me tomorrow… It is well with my soul. Oksalayo, Floyd is useless!!!”
Her remarks were in response to growing calls for Shivambu to be removed from his position. A letter dated 8 February 2025 from the KwaZulu-Natal region was addressed to Zuma-Sambudla, detailing grievances against Shivambu, including accusations of poor leadership, failure to pay staff, and general incompetence.
Floyd Shivambu’s Controversial Appointment and Growing Opposition
Shivambu joined the MK Party in August 2024 after resigning from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Initially, his arrival was seen as a strategic move to bolster the MK Party’s national profile. By November 2024, he had been appointed Secretary-General, a position that came with significant power over party operations.
However, Shivambu’s leadership has been a subject of heated debate. Some party members, especially from KwaZulu-Natal, have accused him of running the party without proper consultation and failing to maintain discipline within its structures.
In the leaked 8 February letter, party members cited the following concerns regarding Shivambu:
• A lack of leadership and failure to provide direction within the party.
• Poor decision-making, with Shivambu allegedly making unilateral decisions without consulting key stakeholders.
• Unprofessional conduct, including the non-payment of constituency staff and rental fees for MK Party offices.
The growing dissatisfaction with Shivambu has emboldened Zuma-Sambudla’s faction, which believes the party should be run by its original founders rather than “newcomers” like Shivambu.
Jacob Zuma Stands by Shivambu, Rejects Calls for His Removal
Despite the growing factional battle, Jacob Zuma has made it clear that he fully supports Shivambu’s leadership.
Magasela Mzobe, head of the MK Party presidency, confirmed that Zuma has no intention of removing Shivambu, stating:
“The president and the collective leadership of the MK Party have full confidence in the Secretary-General. If comrades have got issues with him, they can raise them, but the intention must not be to remove him.”
Mzobe dismissed complaints against Shivambu as part of an internal power struggle, saying:
“The truth is … there are people who would not like an organised MK Party that takes decisions organisationally. They would prefer an MK that behaves as though there’s no centre. Because Floyd is the one that must write letters as an SG and communicate decisions, they think it is his decision.”
This firm stance suggests that the MK Party will not entertain demands for Shivambu’s resignation, potentially deepening tensions between party factions.
The Bigger Picture: A Party Struggling with Identity and Stability
The MK Party was launched in December 2023, with Jacob Zuma positioning it as a political force to challenge the ANC. While it quickly gained momentum, internal power struggles, factionalism, and legal challenges have since plagued the party.
The latest public fallout between Zuma-Sambudla and Shivambu raises concerns about the party’s ability to remain cohesive ahead of the upcoming elections. Political analysts believe that such internal divisions could harm the MK Party’s electoral prospects.
Professor Kedibone Phago, a political analyst, stated:
“The MK Party is still in its formative years, and already we are seeing factional battles playing out in public. This does not bode well for a party that hopes to challenge the ANC and EFF in the upcoming elections. If they cannot manage their internal conflicts, voters will lose confidence in their ability to govern.”
Zuma-Sambudla’s Legal Woes: Facing Terrorism-Related Charges
Beyond the internal party battles, Zuma-Sambudla is also facing serious legal challenges. She was recently released on a warning after appearing in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
She faces charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act (POCDATARA) for allegedly inciting violence through her social media posts during the July 2021 riots in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The riots, which erupted after Jacob Zuma’s arrest, led to over 350 deaths and caused an estimated R50 billion in economic losses. The state alleges that Zuma-Sambudla’s social media activity played a role in encouraging the unrest.
Her case has been transferred to the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, where she is set to appear on 20 March.
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