Former President Zuma's Daughter Steps Down Following Allegations of Citizens Tricked into Engaging for Russia
One of the daughters of former South African president Jacob Zuma has resigned as a member of parliament, after being accused of deceiving 17 South African men into serving for Russia in Ukraine by telling them they were going to Russia to prepare as security personnel for the Zumas’ uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Stepping Down Statement
The 43-year-old Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, prominently involved in political activities of her brothers and sisters, offered to step down and withdraw from public roles while cooperating with a police investigation and striving to bring the men home, the MK chair, Nkosinathi Nhleko, stated at a press conference in Durban.
Magasela Mzobe, informed the media: “As far as we know, the resignation has got no connection to accepting responsibility or the party holding her accountable,” noting that the political group had not been involved with the group of men who ended up trapped on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.
Police Reports
On 22 November, another of Zuma’s daughters, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, filed a police report alleging that her sibling Zuma-Sambudla and two additional individuals, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, had enlisted the men, comprising eight of their family members. She did not suggest a reason for her sister’s alleged enlistment in the statement she made to police.
Zuma-Sambudla then filed an sworn statement of her own, claiming she was “subjected of trickery, false claims and manipulation” by the recruiter after the men were recruited for what she had understood was a authorized security preparation program.
Time in Russia
Zuma-Sambudla said she traveled to the country herself for a month of the instruction, in sections from her statement to police: “I experienced only non-military, supervised exercises. I was never exposed to combat, never deployed.”
She claimed that she had “shared information without malice” with individuals, who then offered to go to Russia themselves. She added: “I would not, intentionally expose my own relatives or any other person to danger.”
Media Reports
The South African outlet the media organization said it had obtained videos from three of the men trapped in Ukraine, in which they alleged Zuma-Sambudla convinced them to sign contracts in the local language that they did not comprehend and said she would spend a year in Russia preparing with them.
Political Context
Jacob Zuma, the party leader, was at the press conference but did not speak. The 83-year-old has been married six times and currently has multiple spouses and more than 20 children. Polygamy is accepted in South Africa via a law governing “traditional” marriages.
Zuma was removed as South Africa’s president in 2018, after being accused of directing a period of significant graft known as “government control”, claims he has always denied. He founded MK party in late 2023, securing a significant portion of the vote in the 2024 national elections.
Ongoing Inquiry
On Tuesday, law enforcement confirmed they were probing, after receiving both affidavits. Zuma-Sambudla did not return calls and messages requesting comment. Khoza and Xuma could not be contacted for comment.
Earlier last month the administration of South Africa’s president, the current leader, announced it was examining how the men became stranded in the conflict region and was working to bring them home, after getting “urgent appeals for assistance”.
Enlistment Claims
The men “were enticed to join private military groups participating in the ongoing conflict under the false promise of lucrative employment contracts”, it noted, stating that citizens were not permitted to assist or fight for overseas armies without government authorisation.
Social Media Posts
She has consistently shared her backing for Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, on social media. “Our support is vocal and unwavering … I’ll Drink To That” she posted on X, then Twitter, with a image of her parent and Putin making a toast, on that date, the day Russia invaded Ukraine. Months later, she posted: “I support Russia,” with pictures of the cultural site in St Petersburg, although it was not evident if she had captured the images herself or when they were taken.
International Ties
South Africa’s African National Congress party, which pressured Zuma to resign as president in 2018, has long been close to Russia after the former USSR supported its fight against segregation. The administration, whose foreign policy is still guided by the party although it is now in a coalition, has avoided from criticising Russia for entering Ukraine. Efforts have been made to portray the nation as a neutral arbiter in the pursuit for a ceasefire agreement.
Court Case
The individual is on trial on charges of provoking unrest in messages on X, during deadly riots that erupted in 2021 when her parent was sent to jail for defying judicial orders. She has denied the claims.
