JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Former South African President Jacob Zuma has expelled his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla from his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, deepening a high-profile political and family rift linked to allegations involving the recruitment of South Africans to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The decision, confirmed by party officials and widely reported by South African media outlets, marks a dramatic fall-out between Zuma and one of his most visible political allies and family members, who had previously held a senior role in the MK Party and served in Parliament.
The expulsion follows months of controversy surrounding Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who has been accused in South African political and legal circles of involvement in schemes that allegedly misled young men into joining Russian-linked military operations under the guise of training programmes.
She has denied wrongdoing, while earlier reports indicated she stepped down from parliamentary duties amid mounting pressure and investigations.
According to party statements cited in local reporting, the MK Party said the decision was based on conduct deemed to have undermined organisational unity, discipline and cohesion.
The party has also been grappling with internal restructuring as it consolidates its position in South Africa’s evolving opposition landscape following the 2024 general elections.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a prominent social media figure and outspoken political voice, has been both influential and controversial within the MK movement.
Her online activity has previously drawn criticism for amplifying factional tensions within the party and for publicly challenging leadership decisions, issues that party officials say contributed to her expulsion.
The alleged Russia-linked recruitment controversy has been one of the most politically sensitive scandals involving the Zuma family in recent years.
South African authorities have previously investigated reports that citizens were misled into travelling abroad under false pretences, with some later found in conflict zones. The MK Party has distanced itself from the allegations.
Zuma-Sambudla has consistently maintained that she was also misled and has denied any role in recruiting or facilitating the travel of South Africans to Russia.
Her legal and political challenges have unfolded alongside broader scrutiny of foreign military recruitment networks involving African nationals.
Jacob Zuma’s decision to expel his daughter highlights growing internal discipline efforts within the MK Party, which has rapidly emerged as a significant political force in South Africa’s opposition politics.
The party has sought to project organisational control as it positions itself against the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and other opposition blocs.
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The development also underscores the increasingly volatile intersection of family ties, party politics and international controversy within the Zuma political network, which has remained central to South Africa’s political discourse for more than a decade.
While the MK Party has not detailed whether further disciplinary or legal consequences will follow, the expulsion signals a decisive break in what was once a tightly aligned political alliance between Zuma and his daughter.
The situation continues to evolve, with further clarity expected as party structures formalise their leadership positions and South African authorities advance related investigations into alleged recruitment activities linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
