South African police have opened an inquiry into claims that former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter helped recruit men for Russian mercenary forces in the Ukraine war. The allegations target Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, an MP in her father’s MK party, and stem from an affidavit filed by her sister requesting a formal probe.
The affidavit alleges Zuma-Sambudla and two associates recruited 17 South Africans who later sought rescue from Ukraine’s war-scarred Donbas region. It claims the men were deceived with promises of employment in Russia and then handed to a Russian mercenary group without their consent.
Police say the case has been transferred to a specialised unit responsible for investigating crimes against the state to determine potential charges. The presidency said earlier this month it had been asked to repatriate the 17 men, who were allegedly trapped in Donbas after being misled by fraudulent job offers.
The conflict, ignited by Russia’s 2022 invasion, has drawn foreign fighters and private military contractors from across Africa and beyond. Local media reports suggest the men were sent to Russia for security training linked to the MK party, which is led by Zuma, who governed South Africa from 2009 to 2018. South African law prohibits citizens from joining foreign armed forces without explicit government approval, placing the alleged recruits in clear legal jeopardy.