Jacob Zuma’s Daughter Thuthukile Resigns From ANC Leadership and Speaks Out About Her Treatment

Thuthukile Zuma, the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has resigned from the African National Congress (ANC)’s Johannesburg Regional Executive Committee (REC). Her decision has attracted attention after she raised serious concerns about how she believes she has been treated within the organisation.

In her resignation letter, which was reportedly sent to the ANC Johannesburg regional secretary, Sasabona Manganye, on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, Zuma questioned whether her family background had contributed to the treatment she experienced within the party.

Thuthukile is the daughter of Jacob Zuma and former ANC minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She suggested that the ANC’s treatment of her parents may have influenced how some party members viewed and treated her.

She reportedly said she wanted to be judged according to her own political work, contributions and commitment rather than her family connections.

Her resignation also comes after disagreements with ANC leadership and disciplinary proceedings reportedly initiated against her over public comments concerning ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and the handling of the party’s candidate lists ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Zuma questioned why disciplinary action was being pursued against her when, according to her, the concerns she had raised about the candidate-list process had not been properly addressed.

She also raised concerns about the Johannesburg regional leadership, alleging that members were not given enough opportunities to express their views during meetings. She further complained about what she described as censorship and intolerance towards people who disagreed with the regional leadership.

Another issue she highlighted was the ANC’s decision to enter the Government of National Unity with the Democratic Alliance after the 2024 national elections. She argued that members should have been given more opportunities to discuss the decision.

Despite stepping down from the regional executive committee, Thuthukile made it clear that she was not leaving the ANC.

She reaffirmed her membership and commitment to the organisation’s founding values.

Her resignation has brought renewed attention to internal disagreements within the ANC, particularly around leadership accountability, freedom of expression and how members who criticise party decisions are treated.