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Former South African President's Daughter Resigns Amid Probe Over Alleged Recruitment to Russian Mercenaries

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from Parliament as police probe claims she helped recruit 17 South African men to a Russian mercenary group fighting in Ukraine. The men, aged 20 to 39, say they believed they were taking up legitimate jobs before ending up in Donbas. An affidavit by her half-sister alleges promises of security training and that eight recruits are extended family members. The MK Party denies involvement and authorities are working with international partners to repatriate the men.

08:38 PM, 11/28/2025Politics
Former South African President's Daughter Resigns Amid Probe Over Alleged Recruitment to Russian Mercenaries

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has resigned her seat in Parliament as police investigate allegations that she helped lure 17 South African men to Russia where they reportedly ended up fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Investigation and Allegations

Police say they are probing whether Zuma-Sambudla played a role in persuading the men, aged between 20 and 39, to travel abroad on the promise of lucrative employment and security training. The men later made distress calls reporting they were trapped in the eastern Donbas region and some had been placed on front-line duties.

An affidavit lodged by Zuma-Sambudla’s half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, alleges that Zuma-Sambudla and two other people convinced the men to go to Russia for training and then handed them over to a Russian mercenary group. The affidavit says eight of the 17 men are members of the extended family of Zuma-Sambudla and Zuma-Mncube. The identities of the other two people named in the affidavit were not made clear.

Official Response and Efforts to Repatriate

The South African foreign ministry and police are coordinating with international law-enforcement partners to secure the return of the men, the parliamentary committee on foreign relations said. Authorities say the recruits left South Africa believing they were taking legitimate employment contracts.

Nkosinathi Nhleko, national chairman of the MK Party, announced Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation during a press briefing and said she had provided a report to party officials about the alleged recruitment. He declined to provide further details citing the sensitivity of the matter and denied any involvement by the party in sending the men overseas. Nhleko said the MK Party would engage with the families and support their efforts to bring the young people home.

Other Legal Matters

Zuma-Sambudla is currently facing unrelated charges arising from deadly anti-government riots in 2021 and has pleaded not guilty to allegations of incitement via social media posts.

Note: The police investigation is ongoing. Allegations contained in the affidavit are subject to legal scrutiny and have not been proven in court.

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