Thukukile Zuma, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma and ex-Health Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has resigned from the ANC’s Johannesburg regional executive committee, claiming the party is attempting to silence her for speaking out against what she calls organisational dysfunction.
Zuma’s resignation follows disciplinary action initiated by regional secretary Sasabona Manganye, who accused her of failing to fulfil her responsibilities as a committee member and of criticising the ANC on social media.
In her resignation letter dated 10 November, Zuma insisted her decision should not be seen as admitting any wrongdoing or withdrawing her commitment to the ANC. She expressed concern that the party has deviated from its founding principles, with little hope for corrective action under its current leadership.
“I cannot escape the conclusion that the present disciplinary proceedings constitute an attempt to purge me from the structure due to my unwillingness to remain silent in the face of what I believe to be wrongdoing and dysfunction at both regional and national levels,” Zuma stated.
She lamented that constructive political engagement has been replaced by a culture where principled disagreement is seen as misconduct. She also questioned whether her treatment is influenced by her family’s political background, drawing parallels with the treatment of her father and Dlamini-Zuma.
Sources within the Johannesburg REC have noted that Zuma did not participate in the party’s local government election campaign. Manganye had previously informed her of potential disciplinary charges regarding her alleged non-performance and social media posts, inviting her to explain her position.
Among Zuma’s controversial posts was a critique of the ANC’s failure to submit candidate lists to the Electoral Commission of South Africa by the deadline, resulting in exclusion of 181 candidates.
“We are told to be calm and silent. There’s been no accountability from leadership regarding the submission process. This is extreme negligence and potentially internal sabotage,” she wrote.
In another post, Zuma attended court to support a colleague challenging his removal from the ANC’s candidate list, expressing concern about Mbalula’s handling of the list submissions.
Zuma pointed out the party’s failure to engage constructively with her criticisms had led to her being targeted for disciplinary action. She highlighted that the REC has neglected to hold meetings as required, stifling members’ ability to raise concerns and engage in important discussions.
“The dysfunctionality is further exacerbated by a culture of censorship and intolerance towards dissent,” she said, noting that voicing disagreement often results in members being removed from discussions.
Zuma argued that the issues within the REC reflect a troubling organisational culture where constructive political debate is increasingly overshadowed by authoritarian practices. She recalled opposing a proposed government of national unity with the Democratic Alliance and faced threats of disciplinary action for her stance.
“The ANC cannot sustain itself by silencing its members,” she concluded, emphasising the need for open dialogue to align with its values of democratic engagement and collective leadership.
