At former deputy president’s birthplace, his siblings and friends say they’re shocked to the core by his axing

Jacob Zuma’s eldest brother, Muziwemfihlo Zuma, has come out with guns blazing and accused President Thabo Mbeki of “killing” his brother by firing him this week.

In an interview with the Sunday Times at his homestead in KwaNxamalala in Nkandla this week, an emotional Muziwemfihlo, 70, said Mbeki had treated his brother unfairly by sacking him.

Holding back tears and with his voice wavering, Muziwemfihlo said he was still deeply shocked at the manner in which his brother had been fired.

“They have killed my brother, and they have not only killed him, but his entire family and the whole of the KwaNxamalala clan.

“We are lost for words and the question uppermost in our minds is, why did my brother deserve to be treated in this fashion?” he said.

Muziwemfihlo said Zuma had lived his entire life in the ANC and even sacrificed his family because of the organisation, “only for him to be treated in the fashion he has been treated”.

“I have a serious problem trying to understand how someone who has dedicated his entire life to the struggle against oppression could just be fired like that,” he said.

“It escapes me why, when it was about time for my brother to reap the fruits for toiling for this country, he’s just fired in one day. Who is without blemish in politics? Even [US President George] Bush, who killed innocent people in Iraq, was not treated the way my brother has been treated.”

He said the whole family had been shocked by Mbeki’s decision.

“His family, including his wife, doesn’t know what is happening,” he said, adding that Zuma’s first wife, Gertrude Sizakele Zuma, who lives at the former deputy president’s R1.3-million, 12-unit homestead in Nkandla, had taken her husband’s sacking very badly.

“I have not been able to speak to her since my brother was fired because she has been avoiding me. She has been very traumatised by the incident and I understand why, because she has been a pillar behind him all these years that he has been struggling for freedom in this country. Right now she doesn’t know what the future holds for them.”

Zuma and his oldest wife, whom he married in 1975, do not have children, something attributed to the fact that Zuma spent most of his time in exile and on Robben Island, where he was incarcerated for 10 years after he was convicted of conspiring to overthrow the government.

Zuma later took a second wife, Kate, now deceased, with whom he had four children born in exile. He then married his third wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is now Foreign Affairs Minister. They had three children but are now divorced.

Three years ago Zuma was reported to have paid 50 cattle as lobolo for a Swazi princess, Sebentile Dlamini, who is 27 years his junior.

Muziwemfihlo said he found it hard to fathom Mbeki’s decision “taking into consideration my brother has not been charged”.

In reference to loans given to Zuma by his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, Muziwemfihlo asked if it was wrong to borrow money when you were short of cash.

“Can’t you approach a friend for help? ”

Despite Jacob Zuma’s downfall, his brother still has high hopes that he will bounce back.

“We want him to become President and we’ve got no doubts in our minds about that. We are of the view that he has been treated in this fashion because they overlook us here in Nkandla. When we voted for the ANC we didn’t vote so that someone could just wake up one morning and then just fire someone anyhow. We still need an explanation.”

Zuma’s youngest sister, Zungezile, said she was sad because she didn’t know what was happening.

“I’m very close to my brother and if there is one thing I have learned from him it is respect. He taught us not only to respect ourselves but other people as well.”

The former deputy president does not only enjoy cult status among the villagers, but among his childhood peers as well.

Those who grew up with him in the rural village hail him as their hero and say he showed leadership qualities at an early age.

They spoke in awe about how he excelled in his stick-fighting days. They also spoke about his love for women and how he would never give up on a woman for whom he had declared his love.

Mncikiselwa Shozi, 56, who knew Zuma as a boy, said: “He was a hero among his stick-fighting peers because he used to beat the hell out of them. He had good tactics. Everybody among his peers respected him for that.”

He said he also remembered Zuma for being a charmer.

“He used to court a lot of women and they just loved him. He used to crack jokes and laugh a lot.”

Vusumuzi Ndlovu, 55, another of Zuma’s childhood friends, said: “One thing’s for sure, he was good with his sticks and he loved women.”

The local chief, Bhekumuzi Zuma, said the KwaNxamalala clan was planning a meeting to discuss Zuma’s sacking.

“The whole clan is heartbroken and bleeding. We want to call an imbizo to plot the way forward because Msholozi [Zuma’s clan name] was a pillar of strength to many people here,” he said.

With acknowledgements to Bongani Mthethwa and the Sunday Times.