Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a prominent daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma and a member of parliament, has offered her resignation after accusations that she persuaded about 17 South African men to travel to Russia and then fight in Ukraine. Authorities and relatives allege the men were told they were going to Russia to train as bodyguards for the Zumas’ uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party but ended up on frontlines in eastern Ukraine.
MK chair Nkosinathi Nhleko said Zuma-Sambudla volunteered to step down from public duties while she cooperates with a police investigation and assists efforts to bring the men home. Another MK official, Magasela Mzobe, emphasized that her resignation should not be taken as an admission of guilt and said the party itself had no involvement in deploying the group to Ukraine.
On 22 November, Zuma-Sambudla’s sister Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube filed a police report accusing Duduzile and two others, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, of recruiting the men — including eight family members. The sister’s report did not suggest a motive. Police confirmed they are investigating after receiving affidavits.
In an affidavit, Zuma-Sambudla described herself as a victim of deception and manipulation by Khoza and said she believed the recruits had signed up for a legitimate paramilitary training course. She said she travelled to Russia for about a month and experienced only non-combat, controlled activities, adding that she never intended to expose family or others to harm.
Local outlet News24 reported it had received videos from three of the men in Ukraine who said Zuma-Sambudla had persuaded them to sign contracts written in Russian that they did not understand and told them she would spend a year in Russia training with them. Zuma-Sambudla did not respond to calls and messages; Khoza and Xuma could not be reached for comment.
Jacob Zuma, MK party president and founder of the new party in December 2023, attended a press conference but did not speak. The party won 14.6% of the vote in South Africa’s 2024 national elections. Zuma, who was removed as president in 2018 amid longstanding allegations he denies, has several wives and more than 20 children; polygamy is recognised under customary marriage law in South Africa.
The presidency said on 6 November it was investigating how the men became trapped in eastern Ukraine and was working to bring them home after receiving distress calls. The office said the men appeared to have been lured to join mercenary forces under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts and noted South Africans are not permitted to assist or fight for foreign militaries without government authorisation.
Zuma-Sambudla has frequently posted support for Russia and Vladimir Putin on social media, including posts marking the start of the invasion in February 2022 and later declaring ‘I Stand With Russia.’ The African National Congress (ANC), which led the ousting of Jacob Zuma in 2018 and remains influential in government, has historic ties to Russia dating to Soviet-era support and has generally avoided openly criticising Moscow over the war, positioning South Africa as a potential neutral mediator.
Separately, Zuma-Sambudla faces trial on charges of incitement for social media posts during the deadly 2021 riots that followed her father’s jailing; she has denied those allegations. The matter remains under police investigation and diplomatic efforts continue to secure the return of the men believed to be in Ukraine.