President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, who received widespread criticism for being the youngest head of a ministerial department, has left her government job, it was confirmed on Sunday.

Department of telecommunications & postal services (DTPS) spokesman Siyabonga Qoza said that Thuthukile Zuma communicated her intention to leave the ministry in the middle of last year.

“She left at the end of December following a handing over period,” said Qoza.

Zuma has been replaced by Frans Mthombeni at DTPS, Qoza said.

Zuma is reportedly the youngest of the president’s four daughters with his former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the current African Union commission chairwoman.

Thuthukile Zuma made headlines in 2014 when she reportedly landed herself the senior government job at the age of 25. The appointment was widely criticised.

The Mail & Guardian reported that Zuma earned almost R1m/year.

Media reports also revealed that it appeared the post was never advertised.

Zuma had reportedly previously worked with Siyabonga Cwele at the State Security Agency. — News24