
Housewife to 'Hottest MP': Duduzile Zuma's qualifications revealed
Since taking up rank in the MK Party, the mother-of-two has been criticised for her lack of political experience and general knowledge. She has also been accused of abusing drugs – allegations she has yet to address.
Duduzile is the twin sister of Duduzane, who has also gone into politics. Their mother – the late Kate Mantsho – died in 2000 in an alleged suicide.
After being indirectly embarrassed by Floyd Shivambu, all eyes are on Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's next move.
While some await another heated X rant, others want to know how Zuma's daughter is qualified to govern in the MK Party's inner core management.
Speaking to DJ Warras on The Shady Podcast last year, Duduzile revealed that she had no political experience. While she graduated from Wits Business School – for a qualification she did not disclose – she considered herself a stay-at-home mom and housewife. Did Floyd Shivambu accuse Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla of taking drugs? Images via X: @floydshivambu @ZumaSambudla/
In the lead-up to the official launch of the MK Party, Duduzile embarked on her first political campaign with her father, Jacob Zuma.
She said of politics, 'I love it. I have a bit of understanding of it now.'
When asked if she was considered MK Party top brass, she confidently added: 'My father is the head. But I am the neck.'
She added: 'I sit in the core. I vote with other comrades; we make decisions, we debate.'
Amid the public criticism, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla urged South Africans to give her a chance to prove herself.
During last year's vote count, the estranged wife of Lonwaba Sambudla was ridiculed over her comments about the MK Party's mission.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Duduzile was questioned on what the MK Party could offer South Africans. She responded: 'The same kind of government that we had under President Jacob Zuma, those amazing nine years, very similar.
Speaking to the Sowetan , Duduzile Zuma was again questioned on the agenda of the MK Party.
She said: 'Doing what the President said under his economy, which is great. We will just go back to that. Because the economy under Cyril Ramaphosa was dismal'.
When asked to elaborate on two key points in their economic plan, Duduzile responded: 'We'll probably look at things like the repo rate to assist in bringing down food prices or whatever. Things to alleviate poverty and too much strain on the pocket of the people'.
In the midst of it, Duduzile told the Daily Maverick: 'It is something I'm still learning and overwhelmed by. But happy to be here and part of the change the country and the world needs.'
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's history with the controversial Gupta family is no secret.
Both Duduzile and her twin Duduzane were hired to work for the brothers Ajay, Atul, and Rajesh's Sahara Group company. The daughter of Jacob Zuma was given the title of director at Sahara Computers in 2008, months before he was elected president of South Africa. She later resigned amid public scrutiny.
The brothers – who alongside Zuma's son Duduzane were accused of fraudulently securing government tenders – have since fled South Africa amid charges of treason, racketeering, extortion, fraud, and forgery.
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The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
'There's no white genocide': US lawmaker pleads SA's case amid sanctions bill
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Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
SA's organised crime optics — suspicions blur lines between ‘gangsters', celebrities and flashy politicians
Shootings. High-profile figures in the entertainment industry. Politicians. Rogue cops. While there have always been rumoured links between these different arenas, South Africa's unprecedented policing scandal is adding substance to related suspicions. Politics, entertainment and shootings — these elements are part of South Africa's seismic policing scandal that keeps erupting with fresh developments and suspicions. While this saga emphasises just how fragmented the country's law enforcement arena is, it also highlights the proximity of certain politicians to individuals who have become the targets of shootings. This is not to suggest the politicians are in the wrong — they are not simply guilty by association. The overall situation, though, points to a blurring of lines between some public servants and people publicly known for reasons unrelated to the state. This reinforces ideas that political influence is seeping into various arenas. Or, more specifically, what's potting in some political offices is trickling into — and merging with — other spaces and even affecting street-level violence. Optics and organised crime There are optics associated with organised crime — and with politics. Prolific long-term lawbreakers may not flaunt their wealth. They know that discretion helps create hurdles in 'follow the money' investigative paths that lead to jail cells. Financially flamboyant criminals attract more scrutiny. They may not care though, especially if they feel they are above the law. Some organised crime suspects in South Africa flash their wealth — they use luxury cars reinforced against bullets. There are stories of Rolex watches discovered during arrests, and some individuals accused of crime enter courtroom docks in designer gear. Suspects can, based on material wealth, come across as celebrities. Now, just to be clear, people can spend their honestly earned personal money however they choose. This extends to politicians. In a South African context, though, politicians in decision-making positions who are wealthy — and who show it — inevitably draw scrutiny. This is because they are meant to be working to safeguard residents and improve the living conditions of the masses of people who are struggling to survive while up against factors including poor governance and state corruption. Some may therefore view it as crass when elements of politics edge towards celebrity-style realms and reality show-type grandeur. Outfits and opulence On 6 July 2025, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a pivotal press conference during which he made astounding accusations that suggest that some of those in power are selling out South Africans. The optics of this briefing were notable, with some saying it created the impression of a coup. Mkhwanazi wore Special Task Force camouflage — he previously headed the unit — and was surrounded by armed police officers. While his attire was scrutinised and, in some instances, criticised, it may make some sense if what Mkhwanazi alleged is true. He said a drug cartel, headquartered in Gauteng and with ties to South America, was running a criminal syndicate that was embedded with corrupt state figures. It is common knowledge that international cartels are ruthless and murder those who get in their way. Mkhwanazi also alleged that at the end of last year the police minister at the time, Senzo Mchunu, issued a directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team to shield politically connected members of a criminal syndicate from prosecution. Mkhwanazi's other claims included that Mchunu was in cahoots with, among others, attempted murder case accused Vusi 'Cat' Matlala. Mchunu denied the accusations but was placed on leave. As for Matlala, central to the allegations against Mchunu, he seems to be someone who enjoyed an opulent lifestyle. According to News24, he had 'bankrolled a luxurious existence for himself and his family, marked by profligate spending on palatial homes, luxury cars and high-end fashion'. Matlala faces criminal accusations in connection with the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane, who was wounded in a Sandton shooting in October 2023. Other shootings of high-profile Gauteng figures fit into this broader matrix in which politicians keep cropping up. [WATCH] As the ANC, we do not think that the matters raised by General Mkhwanazi border on politics. We think the matters are so serious that they border on criminality #KhokhelaRamaphosa #ANCRenewalAtWork — ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 15, 2025 In reaction to Mkhwanazi's allegations, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who was once the minister of police and who is nicknamed 'Razzmatazz' for his flashiness, took to the platform X. Before we get to what he posted on there, it is noteworthy that Mbalula's attire often gets attention. A few years ago, The Citizen even published a lifestyle piece about his 'best looks'. A section of that article referenced what it termed his 'rapper riche' outfits, saying: 'Keeping it young and trendy Mbalul[a] dabbles in loungewear, urban gear, and can often be seen in luxurious Gucci, wearing signature cardigans and embellished beanies. 'He's often spotted in hoodies and comfortable Gucci tracksuits.' Back to issues of national importance. Crime and politics Mbalula, in reaction to Mkhwanazi's recent accusations, posted on X on 15 July 2025: 'As the ANC, we do not think that the matters raised by General Mkhwanazi border on politics. We think the matters are so serious that they border on criminality.' There are obvious overlaps between politics and organised crime, and where they overlap, they are effectively one and the same. Take, for example, the State Capture that crushed the country when Jacob Zuma was president between 2009 and 2018 (when the ANC led South Africa before the Government of National Unity that is now in place). Mkhwanazi's recent accusations suggest the development of other iterations, or the continuation, of that capture. Mbalula, meanwhile, aside from talking about politics bordering on criminality, knew an individual Mkhwanazi referenced during his pivotal press conference — rapper Kiernan Forbes, also known as AKA. In 2020 Mbalula appeared on a TV show that Forbes hosted. He was South Africa's transport minister at the time. Maybe I should start a TV App and calling it's MegaFIX TV ? I've now watched #TheBraaiShowon #AKATV Good job @akaworldwide thank you for the engagement – big ups to your precessional production team. — ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 11, 2020 Forbes, who was based in Gauteng, went on to be murdered in a shooting with his celebrity chef friend, Tebello Motsoane, in KwaZulu-Natal in February 2023. During his press conference earlier this month, Mkhwanazi pointed out that the police in KwaZulu-Natal had made arrests in that case, while suspects were yet to be taken into custody for other incidents involving high-profile individuals in Gauteng. Mkhwanazi said the suspects in those Gauteng cases had been identified, but prosecutors were basically dragging their feet in signing off on arrests. It appeared that among those Gauteng cases was one linked to Oupa John Sefoka, better known as DJ Sumbody, who was murdered there in a shooting in November 2022. DJ Sumbody's murder Sefoka's Instagram account is full of dazzling photographs. Think designer clothing, liquor and luxury cars. Through entertainment venues he had been associated with individuals including alleged 28s gang boss Ralph Stanfield, who was arrested at his home in the upmarket Cape Town suburb of Constantia in 2023. Sefoka's funeral was an elaborate one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Djsumbodysa (@djsumbodysa) Among those who spoke at it was EFF leader Julius Malema, whose name is among those embroiled in the VBS bank scandal, and who faces accusations in connection with the alleged discharge of a firearm at a party event in 2018. Back to the Sefoka case. Arrests were only carried out recently, on 21 July 2025, three years after the shooting and only after Mkhwanazi's press conference during which he implied that certain prosecutors were holding up cases. Another politician crops up here. Firstly I believe Kenny 100%, I can't expect everyone to believe him hence we launching a full investigation to proof what we know already know which is that he is innocent. We will share the whole process and findings. — Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 22, 2025 News24 reported that when the police arrested Katiso Molefe, a key suspect in the Sefoka murder case, at his Sandton home, the Patriotic Alliance's Kenny Kunene was outside the house. Kunene, who has a well-documented past involving unrelated crime, insisted to News24 that he was merely accompanying a young journalist there and that he had no relationship with Molefe whatsoever. The Patriotic Alliance's Gayton McKenzie, South Africa's Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, suspended Kunene the day his presence outside the suspect's home was reported on. McKenzie said this was simply to go through due processes as he believed that Kunene was innocent of any wrongdoing. Now, McKenzie has been open about his past that has involved crime and time in jail. He has before referred to his younger self as 'a common criminal' who became a gangster around the age of 12 or 13 years. As a minister, he has not shied away from that. Gang suspicions It is in this arena that a web of shootings (some with suspected links to gangs in the Western Cape) and court issues start unfurling. These predate, and now include, Sefoka's murder. Politicians' names, for various reasons and again not to suggest that they are in the wrong, are dotted in between. Former Hard Livings gang boss Rashied Staggie was murdered in Cape Town in 2019. Staggie had previously indicated he was backing McKenzie and Kunene's Patriotic Alliance. About a decade ago McKenzie had referred to Staggie as 'a leader'. In 2021 William 'Red' Stevens, widely reputed to have been the most senior 27s gangster, was killed in a shooting in Cape Town. At the time Stevens was facing criminal charges in connection with a murder plot. McKenzie spoke at his funeral. Alleged 28s gang boss Stanfield has several co-accused in the case he is currently charged in. Two of the co-accused face accusations in connection with Stevens' murder. Stanfield also faces charges for a murder conspiracy relating to Staggie's killing. He previously faced other housing tender-linked charges, that were provisionally withdrawn, alongside former DA Cape Town human settlements mayoral committee member, Malusi Booi. Stanfield was among those acquainted with Sefoka, who was murdered in the 2022 Gauteng shooting. It was Sefoka's funeral at which Malema spoke. On 21 July 2025, police officers happened upon Kunene outside the home of one of the suspects arrested in connection with Sefoka's murder. This web, even if the politicians mentioned in it are totally innocent of wrongdoing, is concerning because it is a tiny fragment of a much more expansive web. Mkhwanazi's recent accusations, while yet to be fully tested, highlight other parts of this web and suspected overlaps between organised crime and politics. So far, President Cyril Ramaphosa seems to have taken Mkhwanazi seriously — he has appointed a commission of inquiry to investigate his allegations. As for Malema and McKenzie, they are among politicians who have expressed support for Mkhwanazi (although McKenzie was one of those who viewed Mkhwanazi's press briefing attire as coup-esque). 'Politicians who must still go to prison' The two politicians have quite a past. McKenzie wrote an open letter to Malema back in 2014. A section said: 'Julius, you and I are not 'revolutionaries'. We both know that. We both shop at the same Louis Vuitton and Gucci shops. We both have watches worth hundreds of thousands… 'For people like us to call ourselves revolutionaries is an insult to history's real revolutionaries.' (For his part, at an unrelated event, Malema previously told journalists: 'I bought Louis Vuitton and Gucci before VBS… No one can tell me what to wear and not to wear.') McKenzie had also stated in the letter to Malema: 'You get two kinds of politicians in this country: the ones who come from prison and those who must still go to prison.' Mkhwanazi's recent accusations, paired with past State Capture allegations, now underscore some of McKenzie's words. There are undoubtedly politicians 'who must still go to prison'. Even if the intent behind Mkhwanazi's accusations against politicians and figures in the state is questionable, his allegations have at the very least brought focus onto an arena involving suspicions of rogue state and political activity in organised crime. These kinds of suspicions are not new. And they emphasise how criminality — from killings on street corners, to dirty money spending sprees and political skullduggery — cuts through vastly different sectors and endangers innocent residents. DM


Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Dear Mzansi, embrace your pride in SA; you're doing a better job than the US
Dear South Africa, I'm an American. A guest in your country for more than a decade. I love this country very much, and feel its experience has a lot to offer the modern world. I was born in the Middle East to a Colombian and an American. I chose to become an American when I had to make a choice, then joined the Marine Corps to represent and defend its ideals — ideals I now find reflected more in South Africa than in the United States. Please forgive me for allowing my pronouns to slip into 'we' as I increasingly define Mzansi as my home. I see South Africa as a nation striving, imperfectly but sincerely, to become more inclusive, more accountable and more united. And I feel it's time someone said plainly: you're doing a better job than most, and certainly better than Americans at the moment. In my country, a dishonest, divisive and dangerous narrative was used to implement policy. President Donald Trump's rhetoric around South Africa was a self-serving distortion of reality. He fed conspiracy theories, and inflamed ethno-nationalist sentiment at home and abroad. My American pride is challenged with betrayal – not by our leaders who can justify their actions with rational self-interest, but by my fellow Americans. I see a troubling acceptance of falsehoods used to justify narratives and personal gain. America is an institution, and institutions thrive on shared values, enabling us to build trust and debate nuanced issues with respect and honesty. Without integrity, what we say no longer matters. We cannot communicate. Instead, we're reduced to shouting matches and entrenched division. These falsehoods resonate, not because they're plausible and attractive to the agenda of a few, but because Americans have become willing to accept lies over truth. It is perhaps the telltale sign of inevitable decline – reinforcing the historical evidence that great empires and nations survive and begin to fail within 250 years (the United States celebrates 249 this year). When counterparties give up on the pursuit of truth with complete candour, communication becomes impossible, and relationships and the institutions that surround them inevitably slip further into decline. Americans are accepting falsehoods, and we will continue to lose global relevance with each passing day until this stops. Americans must accept that President Trump isn't the cause of our institutional decay; it is us, ourselves. South Africa, this is a mistake you must never make: do not allow politicians to weave even self-serving falsehoods into their narratives. Collectively, South Africans must channel empathy and communicate with transparent candour – especially when the truth is inconvenient and challenges the comfort of our own tribes. White farm murders are no more part of a coordinated plot to wipe out white people than the collapse of the education system is part of a grand conspiracy to suppress black economic mobility. What we face is not malice; it is collective negligence. We must pool our strengths and live out the principle South Africans are famous for, and make a plan – together! Similarly, communities of colour must also reject any shoots of entitlement and a victim mindset. The narrative that white South Africans are responsible for holding them back obscures the more urgent and fixable truth that invites collaboration across communities. Corruption, incompetence and disengagement at the municipal level are what keep schools underperforming, police ineffective and infrastructure decaying. It is our own communities that allow illegal dumping to turn neighbourhoods into toxic environments, where children grow up surrounded by squalor and neglect. I posit that those South African 'refugees' welcomed by Trump are suffering most from disconnection and isolation from the rest of South Africa. This is itself a systemic vestige of an apartheid past which produces echo chambers: insular spaces where fear, entitlement and victim mindsets go unchallenged. But it doesn't have to be this way. In fact, I believe South Africa has a different path in front of it, and one to which the world should be paying attention. I've noticed how South Africans pedestal things that come from 'overseas'. Whether it's policies, products or personalities, there's a subtle but persistent inferiority complex that creeps into conversations. South Africans should be proud of what they have. What you've built, despite extraordinary odds, is awesome, unique and worth continuing to fight for. South Africa's multicultural realities should not be ignored. The formation of the Government of National Unity is an encouraging big step towards reconciliation, integration and cooperation. Yes, there's dysfunction. Yes, there's corruption. But there is also debate, accountability, civic participation and the pursuit of deeper understanding. And that matters. I see an opportunity to break these silos by building intentional, cross-cultural relationships by addressing shared threats: criminal syndicates, gender-based violence, plastic pollution, extortion, the obesity epidemic and, yes, even farm murders, which, like the violence on the Cape Flats and rural areas, keep communities living in fear. By leveraging shared interests, we can move beyond self-pity and see ourselves as part of a broader society. Purposely aligning cross-cultural teams brings together perspectives and skills to holistically address inherently complex issues as united neighbours while developing deeper meaningful relationships. I posit the most real opportunity to create cross-cultural task forces is to protect what matters most: our youth. After more than 30 years working with youth, I've seen how people quickly drop tribal lenses and start identifying as concerned citizens when we recognise this shared priority: society's children. That means recognising that South Africa is a society of broken families that must be intentional about stepping in where families cannot. It means prioritising and nurturing safe early childhood development centres; demanding well-trained, excellent teachers; developing internship programmes in our companies that bring youth into professional networks beyond their families' reach; and offering access to clean and secure public spaces. These should not be luxuries. They are the foundations of a just society that instils confidence and empowers youth. By creating opportunities for youth to communicate across cultures, we pave the way for earnest communication. This sets the stage for the precise opposite of what faces the United States in its visible decline: a South Africa where a generation of young people can communicate with candour and with the skills necessary to collaborate to tackle complex issues. We need them to participate in the obstacles of the moment and navigate the unseen challenges ahead. Thank you for welcoming me as a guest into your country, your conversations, your communities. If the world is looking for leadership in this new century – not in military might or economic dominance, but in humility, complexity and moral clarity – I believe deeply multicultural South Africa has something powerful to offer … provided we leverage candour and kindness to ' maak 'n plan '. Call to action Protect things that matter. Defend the truth. Become a guardian of this country's future. Act in the name of all our children. Get involved with schools and youth programmes – especially if you're reading this, consider communities beyond your own. Inclusively ensure all children have access to the things we know to be important, and along the way never forget a core concept of the institutions we all trust – ' ductus exemplo ': to lead by example. We can only teach our youth to communicate with candour and integrity with people who are radically different from themselves … by doing it ourselves.