South Africa - Johannesburg - 18 June 2026 - uMkhonto weSizwe Party president Jacob Zuma speaks during a press conference at CedarWoods Conference Centre.
Image: Itumeleng English / ANA Studio
MK Party expelled Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and former spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela after they illegally transferred Muzi Ntshingila to another health facility without the knowledge of his family.
Ntshingila died on June 4 at the age of 43 following a prolonged illness.
MKP accused them of conduct that undermined party discipline, deepened internal divisions and defied organisational authority.
In a statement, the MKP announced the immediate expulsion of Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela, saying their actions had become fundamentally incompatible with the values, constitutional principles and organisational interests of the movement.
The fallout follows months of growing tensions inside the party, where both figures increasingly found themselves at the centre of controversy.
According to the MKP, Zuma-Sambudla repeatedly used public platforms and social media to challenge party decisions, question the legitimacy of recognised leadership structures and expose internal matters to public scrutiny.
The party argued that her statements promoted factional narratives, weakened confidence in collective leadership and contributed to growing divisions within the organisation.
“These actions have contributed to divisions within the movement and have undermined confidence in the collective leadership of the organisation,” the statement read.
The party also accused her of participating in and promoting activities outside officially sanctioned programmes, creating confusion among members and supporters about the party's official positions and direction.
Ndhlela, meanwhile, was accused of acting without proper organisational authority and operating outside established party structures.
The MKP alleged that he convened and addressed media briefings without approval, misrepresented party positions and participated in activities that created uncertainty about official party processes and leadership arrangements.
However, it was the controversy surrounding the late MKP Member of Parliament Muzi Ntshingila that appears to have pushed matters to a breaking point.
The party alleged that Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela became involved in decisions concerning Ntshingila's illness despite having no authority to do so.
Central to those concerns was their alleged participation in an activity that led to Ntshingila being transferred to another healthcare facility without his family's knowledge.
“The party notes that neither individual had any authority to involve themselves in matters relating to Ntshingila's illness or to separate him from his family,” the party said.
Additional concerns were raised regarding the alleged removal of Ntshingila's personal belongings from his parliamentary residence without the knowledge of his relatives.
Following complaints from the Ntshingila family, Parliamentary Leader Dr John Hlophe reportedly instructed both Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela not to attend funeral proceedings and to refrain from making public comments, social media posts or statements relating to the deceased.
The directive was intended to prevent further distress to the family during a period of mourning.
“As a party, we extend our deepest apologies to the Ntshingila family for any distress caused during this difficult period,” he said.
The MKP said both members ignored those instructions.
“Zuma-Sambudla subsequently participated in social media commentary relating to the deceased,” it said.
The organisation described the conduct as insensitive and disrespectful to a grieving family, saying it further aggravated tensions at a sensitive time.
After considering what it described as the seriousness and cumulative impact of the pair's actions, the party concluded that both had acted in direct conflict with organisational discipline and authority.
Invoking constitutional powers vested in party president Jacob Zuma, the MKP formally terminated their memberships with immediate effect.
The decision strips Zuma-Sambudla and Ndhlela of all rights, privileges and authority within the organisation, bringing to an abrupt end their roles in a party they once helped shape and placing fresh focus on the battle for unity and discipline within the MK Party.
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