Former MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and former national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela have rejected their expulsion from the party, setting the stage for a legal challenge that could test the young political organisation’s internal governance structures.
The pair were expelled following allegations of gross misconduct and participating in unsanctioned activities related to the death of fellow MK Party MP Muzi Ntshingila. The party claims their conduct contravened its constitution.
However, during a media briefing, both Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela denied the allegations and argued that the MK Party failed to follow its own disciplinary procedures before removing them.
Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, resigned from parliament in November 2025 to focus on cooperating with a police investigation into allegations that she played a role in trafficking South African men to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The allegations emerged after 17 South African men, aged between 20 and 39, were allegedly lured to Russia under the pretence of receiving security training or lucrative employment, only to be handed over to a Russian mercenary group. Zuma-Sambudla’s half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, filed an affidavit with police accusing her of human trafficking, fraud and illegal recruitment of citizens for a foreign military.
Zuma-Sambudla denied the allegations, claiming she had been a victim of deception. She said she had previously received non-combat training in Russia which she believed to be legitimate and “innocently” shared information about similar training opportunities with others, including family members. She filed her own criminal complaint, alleging she was misled.
The Hawks, South Africa’s elite police unit, launched a joint investigation into the claims.
Her resignation from parliament came whilst she was already standing trial in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court on separate charges related to the July 2021 unrest in Durban and surrounding areas. The state has charged her with incitement to commit terrorism, incitement to commit public violence and violating the Riotous Assemblies Act.
Prosecutors allege she used social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to “incite, encourage and support” acts of violence, arson and looting during the widespread unrest which followed her father’s imprisonment for contempt of court. The riots resulted in more than 350 deaths and billions of rand in damages.
The state’s case centres on her frequent use of the phrase “we see you” alongside videos of burning vehicles and scenes of unrest, which prosecutors argue served as an endorsement and a “call to action” for rioters. Expert witnesses highlighted that she posted 28 times within a 36-hour period during the peak of the unrest.
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Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her legal team has argued that her social media posts did not contain clear or direct instructions to commit violence and that the phrase “we see you” is often used as a form of recognition or admiration rather than a signal of violent intent. The trial, which began in November 2025, is ongoing.
The latest expulsion from the MK Party has raised questions about the organisation’s internal disciplinary processes and how it manages dissent within its ranks. Political analysts suggest the dispute could have implications for the party’s cohesion as it navigates the political landscape.
Both have indicated they will challenge their expulsion, maintaining that the claims against them are unfounded. The outcome of any legal challenge could set precedents for how the MK Party handles internal discipline and whether its constitutional procedures can withstand judicial scrutiny.
