Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has stepped down as a Member of Parliament following serious allegations that she played a role in deceiving a group of South African men into travelling to Russia, where they reportedly ended up fighting as mercenaries in the conflict in Ukraine.
Zuma-Sambudla, who represented the opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), maintains in a sworn affidavit that she believed the men were travelling legally for professional training purposes and denies knowingly misleading anyone. Her party said the decision to resign was entirely her own, framing it as an effort to concentrate on bringing home the 17 men currently trapped in Ukraine’s war-ravaged Donbas region.
Families of the affected men, however, say the resignation offers them no comfort. One relative, referred to as Xolani for safety reasons, told the BBC that his brother—identified only as Sipho—has been sending increasingly desperate voice messages describing the harsh conditions and constant fear the men are living under. He said the family wants transparency, responsibility and, most importantly, his brother’s safe return.
According to the messages shared with the BBC, Sipho claims he was recruited by two individuals—one allegedly being Zuma-Sambudla herself—and that the group’s travel arrangements, including their flights to Russia, were fully covered by the recruiters. Zuma-Sambudla has rejected suggestions that she knowingly facilitated the men’s deployment to a battle zone, stating she feels shocked and manipulated by those who orchestrated the scheme.
Xolani said Sipho departed South Africa on 8 July under the impression that he would undergo bodyguard training for MK. The party has denied involvement in any recruitment efforts and insisted that it had no role in sending individuals abroad for combat-related activities. At a press briefing, MK chairperson Nkosinathi Nhleko said the organisation supported Zuma-Sambudla’s decision to resign and backed efforts to secure the men’s return.
MK, formed in 2023 and named after the former armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), is led by Jacob Zuma following his split from the ANC after a fallout with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The controversy has placed new scrutiny on the party at a politically sensitive time.
Another family has reported a similar experience, saying their relative was promised “counter-intelligence” and “bodyguard” training in Russia but instead found himself under the command of Russian personnel in an active war zone. According to his sister, the men are allegedly being forced into labour, threatened if they refuse orders and treated in conditions far worse than they expected.
Families of the recruits say they will continue to push for accountability, arguing that those responsible must answer for how unemployed and vulnerable South Africans were drawn into a foreign conflict under false pretences.
