Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned from parliament following explosive allegations that she helped lure 17 South African men to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war under false pretences. Zuma-Sambudla, who became an MP for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party last year, insists she believed the men were travelling for lawful security training.
In an affidavit, she says she herself is a “victim of deception”, denying any intent to recruit fighters. MK claims the resignation was her own decision so she can concentrate on trying to bring the stranded men home from the war-torn Donbas region. Families, however, say the move means nothing without accountability.
‘We’re seeing movie scenes in real life’
Media spoke to the brother of one of the trapped men. For safety, the man in Ukraine is being called Sipho, and his brother in South Africa Xolani.
Sipho has sent desperate voice notes describing life near the front line. “Things you see in the movies, we’re seeing live,” he says. Xolani says his brother fears every nightfall: “He doesn’t know what will happen to him. They’re always in a war zone.” Xolani dismisses Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation: “She’s trying to protect her father’s political party. Families want accountability and the safe return of the men who were tricked into fighting for Russia.”
Recruitment claims
In voice notes heard by the media, Sipho says two recruiters, one allegedly Zuma-Sambudla, paid for their flights to Russia. He believed he was going for bodyguard training linked to MK. When the group arrived, they were given contracts written only in Russian. According to Xolani, the men contacted Zuma-Sambudla and another recruiter for help; both then flew to Russia and encouraged them to sign. Days later, Sipho says the men were transported into Ukraine and separated. He ended up in Donetsk, about 10km from the front line. WhatsApp messages from the group show growing panic:
“We were told we are going to a safe place but we went deeper into the bad place,” one man wrote. Others warned of drone attacks and uncertainty over their survival.
A number saved as “Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla” appears in the chat, telling the group to “hang in there”.
Police investigation widens
Zuma-Sambudla filed an affidavit after her half-sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, accused her of luring young South Africans into the conflict. Both women have opened cases with the Hawks, South Africa’s elite police unit. The Hawks say they are investigating potential human trafficking, illegal recruitment, exploitation, or fraud.
In her affidavit, Zuma-Sambudla claims she previously attended non-combat training in Russia arranged by a man she barely knew. She admits she shared information about the programme “innocently” with relatives and acquaintances, believing it lawful. Zuma-Mncube, however, alleges her half-sister and two named men misled 17 South Africans, including eight of her own family members, who were then handed to a Russian mercenary group without their consent.
Calls for help go unanswered
South Africa’s government confirmed earlier this month it had received distress calls from 17 citizens trapped in Donbas after being lured with promises of lucrative jobs. Several voice notes suggest more than 20 were initially recruited, with some sent back to Russia for medical reasons. One man has reportedly been wounded, and his condition is unknown.
Some recruits may have come from neighbouring Botswana, according to Bloomberg. Despite promising to use diplomatic channels to bring the men home, the government has provided no updates. For families like Xolani’s, the wait is agonising: “We can go five days without hearing from him. The family fears for his life.” Meanwhile, Sipho keeps sending the same plea: “It’s tough here… we all just want to come home.”