Zuma’s political twins: Duduzane rises in MK Party as Duduzile is pushed out
Former South African president Jacob Zuma has reshuffled the leadership of his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, installing his son Duduzane Zuma as the organisation’s first deputy president and removing his twin sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, from its ranks, according to The Africa Report.
The move underscores the deeply personal nature of politics within the MK Party, which Zuma registered ahead of South Africa’s 2024 general election. The party went on to secure a significant share of the national vote, drawing heavily on the former president’s enduring political brand in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal and beyond, as The Africa Report reported.
Duduzane Zuma, a businessman long associated with his father’s political fortunes, has gradually been drawn into the party’s senior structures. His elevation to first deputy president places him among the most senior figures in an organisation that presents itself as the heir to the armed wing of the liberation movement historically known by the same name.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, by contrast, has been a vocal presence in defending her father through years of legal and political battles, frequently using social media and public platforms to rally supporters. Her expulsion from the party marks a striking reversal for a figure once considered close to its inner circle.
The twin trajectories highlight how factional loyalties inside the MK Party remain closely tied to family ties. Zuma, who served as South Africa’s president from 2009 until his resignation in 2018 under pressure from the ruling African National Congress, has used the new party as a vehicle to remain a central figure in South African political life long after leaving office. The comparison between the siblings, The Africa Report noted, illustrates the personal and generational dynamics shaping the young party’s direction.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
- The Africa Report — South Africa: Jacob Zuma’s political twins – Duduzile vs Duduzane
