MK Party members question Duduzane Zuma’s new presidential task team role

Umkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP) members have criticised the inclusion of Duduzane Zuma in the party’s presidential task team, arguing the move is tantamount to “imposing” him on the party as “almost a second deputy president”.

The members point to more responsibilities and the prominent, public roles he has been playing as indications that he is being “prepared” for a senior position. The MKP recently announced the establishment of the presidential task team, which will handle day-to-day matters requiring the party president Jacob Zuma’s attention but that he cannot attend due to other commitments. Among those included in the task team is Duduzane.

An MKP member commented that Duduzane’s inclusion was not surprising; signs have indicated for some time that he is being prepared for a role in the party. “They have been slowly laying the groundwork to elevate him to the post. His inclusion in the team tells us that he is now the ‘second deputy president of the party’,” said the member, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

“We know him as the founder of his own party, but over the past few months, we have noticed him doing more and more MKP work, sent by his father. We observed him being publicly profiled while doing community work on behalf of the MKP, indicating that this was all leading to his inclusion in the task team.”

Duduzane recently participated in charity work, donating meals to community members waiting to collect their pensions. “We cannot overlook the fact that he is very popular; that is clear to almost all of us in the MKP. His closeness with his father makes him ‘almost the second deputy president’, and furthermore, we believe he is the succession plan for the party after his father. In fact, we had thought that with Duduzile resigning from parliament, it was Duduzane who was going to take her place.”

Members expressed concern that this situation is diminishing the standing of the MKP in the eyes of its supporters. “There is a lot of unhappiness and a feeling that the MKP is often perceived as a family affair for the Zuma family.

The members are afraid to speak out because doing so would mean they either need to find a new political home or go back to the ANC. I fear if this feeling persists, the MKP will not do well in the coming elections.”

Another MKP member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said nothing makes sense about the presidential task team.

“What is the high command going to be doing when there is this presidential task team? Even with Duduzane’s inclusion, it is strange. We thought that since Tony Yengeni was brought in, party leader Zuma would be pushing Yengeni more and more into prominent roles while he (Zuma) took a backseat, but that is not happening. Both men are old, but Yengeni is not as old as Zuma. What we are seeing is that Duduzane is being pushed to the front, almost to the position of Deputy President, which could be available after all the troubles that the person who occupied that post, John Hlophe, is facing.”

The member stated that without his father, Duduzane would struggle to garner the attention he currently receives.

Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela has stated in a television interview that, in light of the upcoming local government election, it is important for the party to be “all hands on deck.”

He dismissed any concerns that Duduzane’s inclusion is part of long-term succession planning. “Duduzane has been appointed to play a role in the task teams, as is the case with other people appointed. At one point, it was his sister that was spoken about (that she will take over leading the party); let us not read too much into that.”

Political analyst Thabani Khumalo said Duduzane is likely to be the point of reference for anyone seeking an audience with Zuma.

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