The ANC Greater Johannesburg Region stated that it initiated an organisational process against Zuma on October 15, 2026. The region accused her of failing to discharge her responsibilities as an elected REC member and violating the party’s social media protocols by using her X account to criticise ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Regional records indicated that Zuma had been absent from most regional meetings since her election, with specific concerns raised regarding her attendance at election meetings, participation in subcommittees, and involvement in campaign activities for the local government elections held on November 4, 2026.
Initially granted seven days to respond, Zuma requested and was granted an extension, moving the final submission deadline to November 20, 2026. However, her resignation letter circulated on social media before it was formally received and processed by the Office of the Regional Secretary, Sasabona Mangane. The region noted that it had already initiated the process before receiving the resignation.
In her resignation letter, Zuma rejected the allegations of misconduct, stating that the charges were “wholly untrue.” She argued that the party could not point to a specific constitutional provision that established how her conduct constituted misconduct. Zuma maintained that her public criticism was a direct response to what she described as misconduct by Secretary-General Mbalula in handling the submission of candidate lists ahead of the recent local government elections.
Zuma alleged that the disciplinary proceedings were an attempt to purge her from the structure due to her unwillingness to remain silent on what she viewed as organisational wrongdoing and dysfunction. She accused the Greater Johannesburg REC of failing to convene meetings, thereby denying members a platform to raise concerns. Furthermore, she alleged a culture of censorship within the structure, citing the muting of members during Zoom meetings and the removal of individuals from the REC’s WhatsApp group for expressing dissenting views.
The former REC member also linked her treatment to her family ties. She stated that persistent taunts portraying her as merely an agent of her father, former President Jacob Zuma, and her aunt, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, disregarded her own record of service. Zuma questioned whether the disciplinary action was partly a consequence of her “DNA,” given the manner in which the ANC has treated her family members.
The ANC Greater Johannesburg Region has noted the resignation but has not indicated whether the disciplinary process will formally conclude or if further steps will be taken regarding the initial allegations. The local government elections referenced in the disciplinary charges took place on November 4, 2026.
