DuduZile Zuma is divorced but she was previously married to a businessman, Lonwabo Sambudla for four years before their marriage ended on allegations of cheating.
Jacob Zuma‘s daughter had an extravagant wedding in 2011 that was said to cost over R3 million. The marriage, however, crashed in 2015 as her husband allegedly fathered a child with his mistress. Since her divorce, DuduZile has remained single and is yet to remarry.
Is DuduZile Zuma Married Now?
DuduZile Zuma is presently divorced but was once married to business executive, Lonwabo Sambudla. The couple had an over-the-top wedding in April 2011. The ceremony was held at the Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve near East London over the Easter weekend. DuduZile and Sambudla met in the year 2009 when Dudu was a board member at Sahara Computers owned by the Gupta family.
The two got engaged in 2010 and in that same year, Sambudla paid DuduZile’s lobola with 16 cows at her homestead in December 2010. The couple first had their white wedding followed by their traditional marriage. The wedding was the talk of the town as the civil wedding was Parisian-themed and had South African dignitaries in attendance.
A pre-party was held for the wedding on Friday at Kunene‘s ZAR club and the after-party took place at the Walter Sisulu University Unitra sports ground in Mthatha.
Inside DuduZile Zuma’s Wedding of the Year
Having come from a wealthy political family and her husband, a successful businessman, DuduZile Zuma had a lavish wedding described as South Africa’s wedding of the year 2011. At the entrance of the wedding venue – Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve, a giant marquee was erected. Then near the entrance was a framed photograph of DuduZile Zuma’s mother, Kate Mantsho, who committed suicide in 2000. The photo frame stand was mounted in front of a candle.
Dudu’s wedding venue was highly protected by an army of presidential protection units, private security guards, and police. The bride, who was 28 at the time, showed off affluence with her dressing style. She rocked a white off-the-shoulder wedding gown encrusted with Swarovski crystals.
The pair of silver shoes she wore was designed by Christian Louboutin. She then graced the headlines of many news tabloids for wearing a custom-made diamond necklace valued at R1.5 million. DuduZile and her four bridesmaids, who were dressed in red gowns, collectively wore more than 1,000 diamonds on their necks worth R4.5 million. Her expensive diamond necklace was given to her on loan by a top jewelry store.
As a result, members of the South African Police Service were on hand to guard the diamond jewelry as well as the 650 guests on the ground. On the other hand, the 31-year-old groom rocked a cream suit with a matching bow tie. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Pastor Alph Lukau of Alleluia Ministries International. A Nigerian gospel artist, Uche Agu also entertained the wedding guests.
The attendees included the wedding organizer, “Sushi King” Kenny Kunene, Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Chief Mandla Mandela, former Miss South Africa, Tansey Coetzee, businessman, Vivian Reddy, Somizi Mohlongo, Khanyi Mbau, Jeff Radebe, and Naledi Pandor. As media coverage was forbidden at the event, the rights to the wedding were sold to a local magazine by the couple. They also requested gift vouchers from different high-end stores in the country.
What Caused DuduZile Zuma and Lonwabo Sambudla’s Divorce?
In July 2015, reports had it that DuduZile’s marriage was on the verge of crashing and she and her husband were heading for divorce proceedings. DuduZile and Sambudla separated barely five years into the marriage and the split was caused by infidelity on the part of the husband. He allegedly had extramarital affairs and also, purchased a house in Midrand and a luxury car for his mistress while married to DuduZile.
Lonwabo Sambudla had a love child during his marriage to Zuma and that led to the collapse of their union. The couple eventually divorced in 2016 and DuduZile Zuma was awarded a monthly divorce settlement of R168,000. Despite receiving such an amount in alimony, Jacob Zuma’s daughter pressed for her to be awarded half of her husband’s multimillion-rand estate.
After the divorce settlement was given, she submitted a claim in court stating that she married Sambudla in a community of property and of profit and loss as they had a customary marriage in 2010 when the businessman paid her lobola. DuduZile explained in court documents that no antenuptial contract was entered between her and her husband before the conclusion of the customary marriage.
Hence, it is a marriage in a community of property. Sambudla’s lawyer, Gary Mazaham said his client would oppose the claim. Meanwhile, DuduZile Zuma’s monthly divorce settlement included:
- R20,000 – for travel expenses, having spent holidays overseas with her estranged husband
- R14,000 – for two domestic workers
- R3,500 – for the gardener’s salary
- R5,000 – for petrol
- R4,000 – for airtime
- R5,000 – for household maintenance
- R50,000 – for property rental
- R62,000 cash
Who Was DuduZile Zuma’s Husband?
Duduzile Zuma’s ex-husband, Lonwabo Sambudla is a wealthy businessman. He serves as the founder and executive chairman of an investment company, Impuma Group. The company has subsidiaries specializing in telecommunications, engineering, financial services, and consulting. He also co-founded Bayete Capital, a firm operating within the property sector, and is the executive chairman.
He is the former chief executive officer of Lembede Investments Holdings (LIH), which was the ANC Youth League investment arm. Lonwabo Sambudla is a graduate of Wits Business School where he completed the Management Advancement Programme (MAP) and CPFA courses. He also obtained a certificate in Commercial Property Practitioner (CPP) from the University of Pretoria.
Little wonder, he has significant experience in property investment and development, financial services, telecommunications, engineering, consulting, and corporate advisory.
The Rise and Fall of Lonwabo Sambudla
Lonwabo Sambudla – an ANC linked businessman previously married to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla – seemingly scored big on a multimillion-rand contract to modernise and maintain the City of Johannesburg's dilapidated licensing centres, but never did the work.https://t.co/nRG3gYVE8Y
— News24 (@News24) October 15, 2022
In spite of his great achievement in business, Lonwabo Sambudla is said to have acquired his massive fortune with the help of Jacob Zuma who was awarding him millions of rands worth of government tenders while in power. For instance, in 2011, DuduZile’s ex-husband was linked to a suggested R1 billion tender by the Department of Public Service and Administration to the Billion Group for new government offices.
Later, after his former father-in-law was unseated from power, the businessman plunged into debt. In July 2022, Sunday World reported that Sambudla’s company, Impuma Group was dragged to a Joburg High Court for failure to pay monthly rentals for several months. The company defaulted in paying over R3 million in rent.
Thus, the owners of the office space, Little River Trading filed a lawsuit for them to leave the office building after canceling Sambudla’s company lease agreement.
How Many Children Does DuduZile Zuma Have?
DuduZile Zuma had two daughters with her ex-husband, Lonwabo Sambudla before they divorced. After their separation, Sambudla accused former president, Jacob Zuma’s daughter of preventing him from spending time with his daughters. He also accused his ex-wife of preventing their two children from meeting and associating with the love child he had with his mistress during their marriage.
In December 2021, the controversial former chief executive of Lembede Investment Holdings lamented that Dudu refused to allow him to spend the holiday with his daughters and his other kids in KwaZulu-Natal. Consequently, he filed a lawsuit against his estranged wife at the Johannesburg High Court. He made the move to obtain an order that will coerce DuduZile to give him access to his children.
As part of their divorce settlement, DuduZile barred her children from meeting with her ex-husband’s love child and it was made an order of the court. The prohibition can only be lifted only when the former couple had acquired the service of David Abrahamson, a clinical psychologist. He would guide how the children should be introduced to each other.
Even though DuduZile Zuma posts about her daughters on social media, their personal details are still kept secret including their dates of birth and the schools they attend.
