Nkosinathi Nhleko, chairman of South Africa's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, announced on 28/11/2024 that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla had voluntarily stepped down as a Member of Parliament and paused her public roles. This move facilitates her cooperation with police investigations amid allegations that she misled 17 individuals into joining a bodyguard training program for the party, only for them to be sent to the Ukrainian battlefield.

Zuma-Sambudla, 43, is the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma. She previously faced accusations of inciting violence through posts on X related to the 2021 riots. Those disturbances protested her father's 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

The scandal erupted when Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a complaint. She accused her sister, along with Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, of recruiting 17 men, including eight family members, to serve as mercenaries for Russia.

MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla of the MK party at a press conference on 28/11/2024 in Durban. Photo: AFP

Zuma-Sambudla denied the claims, stating she was a "victim of deceit and manipulation" by Khoza. She explained that she believed it was a legitimate paramilitary training course. She maintained that she unintentionally shared information, leading others to voluntarily travel to Russia, emphasizing she never intended to put her family or anyone else in danger.

Meanwhile, News24 reported receiving videos from three South African men stranded in Ukraine. They accused Zuma-Sambudla of persuading them to sign contracts in Russian, despite their inability to understand the content, and promising to train with them for one year.

South African police confirmed on 26/11/2024 that they are investigating the allegations. This followed the receipt of statements from both Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube and Zuma-Sambudla. MK party officials clarified that Zuma-Sambudla's resignation does not constitute an admission of guilt. They also asserted that the party has no connection to the group of individuals stranded on the front lines in Ukraine.

Earlier, on 6/11/2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa's office announced an investigation into a group of South African citizens stranded in eastern Ukraine. The government is working to repatriate them after receiving a distress call.

South African officials believe the individuals were lured into joining mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict under the guise of attractive employment contracts. South Africa prohibits its citizens from joining foreign armed forces without government permission.

Russia has not yet commented on the information. The Russian military has integrated numerous mercenaries from the private military company Wagner and allows volunteers to sign contracts to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.