Thuthukile Zuma has resigned from the ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee (REC), with immediate effect, following the party’s move to institute disciplinary proceedings against her over alleged dereliction of duties and social media posts criticising ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.
The daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and former minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has rejected the allegations, accusing the party’s Johannesburg leadership of victimisation, censorship and attempting to silence dissenting voices.
In her resignation letter, dated 10 November 2026 and addressed to regional secretary Sasabona Manganye, Zuma said the disciplinary process was being used to remove her from the structure because she had refused to remain silent about what she regarded as organisational wrongdoing.
“I cannot escape the conclusion that the present disciplinary proceedings constitute an attempt to purge me from the structure on account of my unwillingness to remain silent in the face of what I believe to be organisational wrongdoing and dysfunctionality both at a regional and national level,” she wrote.
The dispute follows her public criticism of Mbalula over the ANC’s handling of its candidate list submission process ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The party came under scrutiny after failing to submit 181 councillor candidates to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) by the deadline, resulting in their exclusion from the candidate lists.
Zuma questioned the leadership’s accountability over the matter, arguing that members were expected to remain silent despite what she considered serious organisational failures.
“My public utterances concerning the secretary-general and the manner in which certain organisational processes were handled do not fall outside the bounds of what may reasonably be expected of a member of the ANC under the circumstances,” she wrote.
She further argued that the party should have addressed the issues she raised instead of pursuing disciplinary action against her.
“It is unfortunate that, rather than confronting the substantive issues raised, the organisation has elected to pursue disciplinary action against me for speaking out.”
Zuma also accused the Johannesburg regional leadership of failing to convene meetings consistently, leaving members without proper platforms to discuss organisational matters.
She alleged that members who expressed views contrary to those of regional secretary Manganye were muted during virtual meetings or removed from the regional executive’s WhatsApp group.
“The muting of members in Zoom meetings, as well as the manipulation of the WhatsApp platform utilised by REC members for organisational communication, have been used as an instrument of censorship and control,” she said.
She claimed that she had personally been removed from the WhatsApp group on several occasions and that previous complaints to the regional leadership had not been meaningfully addressed.
The ANC, however, has presented a different account of the events leading to her departure.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Greater Johannesburg Region said it had initiated an organisational process on 15 October 2026, requesting Zuma to explain why she should not face disciplinary action.
The region cited two concerns: her alleged failure to fulfil responsibilities as an elected REC member and alleged violations of the ANC’s social media protocols through posts on her X account criticising Mbalula.
According to the ANC, its records showed that Zuma had been absent from most regional meetings since her election. Concerns were also raised about her attendance at regional election meetings, participation in subcommittees, fulfilment of her Zone 3 deployment and involvement in election campaign activities.
The party said she was initially given seven days to respond, but extensions were granted following requests for additional time. The final deadline was extended to 20 November.
The ANC said it received her resignation letter on 10 November.
“The Region notes the issues raised in the correspondence and will consider its contents alongside the matters previously communicated to her, in accordance with the ANC Constitution and applicable organisational procedures,” it said.
It added: “Organisational discipline, accountability and respect for collective leadership remain fundamental to the character and functioning of the ANC.”
The regional leadership also said it remained committed to upholding the party’s constitution and internal processes.
Zuma’s resignation also brings renewed attention to her political position within the ANC, particularly her opposition to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) following the 2024 national elections.
She was among those who publicly opposed the ANC entering into a coalition arrangement with the Democratic Alliance (DA), arguing that the party had not adequately allowed its structures to debate the implications of the decision.
She previously participated in a picket outside an ANC National Executive Committee meeting to protest the arrangement, which she said was followed by threats of disciplinary action.
In her resignation letter, she questioned whether her political views and treatment within the organisation were influenced by her family connections.
“Given the manner in which the ANC has treated former president Jacob Zuma and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, I cannot help but question whether the treatment I now endure is, in part, a consequence of my DNA,” she wrote.
She also complained about persistent attempts to portray her as an agent of her parents rather than an individual with her own political record.
“I have always maintained that I be judged on my own conduct and contribution, not my family ties,” she said.
Thuthukile Zuma was elected to the ANC Greater Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee in June 2022. She also contested the position of regional deputy chairperson during the Johannesburg regional leadership elections in December 2025.
Her political identity has often attracted attention because of her family background. Her father, Jacob Zuma, is a former ANC president and current leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, while her mother, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is a former government minister and senior ANC figure.
The family connections have also placed her within the broader political tensions that have followed Jacob Zuma’s departure from the ANC and the formation of the MK Party.
However, in her letter, she insisted that her political contribution should be assessed independently of her parents.
Zuma said leaving the regional executive committee was not an admission of wrongdoing and should not be interpreted as abandoning the organisation.
She maintained that she remained committed to the ANC’s founding values but could no longer serve in a structure where she believed internal democracy and accountability were being undermined.
The resignation leaves questions about the ongoing disciplinary process and the broader tensions within the Johannesburg ANC leadership, particularly as the party prepares for the local government elections.
