Zuma’s Daughter Resigns Amid Allegations She Recruited South Africans to Fight for Russia in Ukraine

Overview: Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a 43-year-old member of parliament and daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, resigned after allegations that she and associates lured South African men to Russia and handed them over to fighters deployed to Ukraine. She is under police scrutiny and denies knowingly exposing anyone to harm.

How the case emerged

On November 22, an affidavit was filed by Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, who says she is the eldest daughter of Jacob Zuma. The affidavit alleges that Zuma-Sambudla, together with two others named as Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza (also cited in some statements as Blessing Rhulani Khoza), recruited 17 South African men by promising year-long security training in Russia followed by employment back home. According to the affidavit, the men were instead handed to a Russian mercenary group and deployed to the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine.

Victims' accounts and signals for help

Authorities received distress signals on November 6 from 17 South Africans aged between 20 and 39 asking to be removed from combat roles. Sixteen were reported to be from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape. Multiple men say they were promised legitimate training and jobs; one account describes being issued military fatigues six weeks after arrival in Russia and then being sent to fight in the Donbas region.

Police, diplomatic and political response

President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a police investigation. South Africa's foreign ministry has said it is engaging with Russian and Ukrainian authorities to secure the safe return of the nationals. Foreign Minister Richard Lamola called for those responsible to be arrested and acknowledged the difficulty of extracting people from active battle zones.

Five suspects were arrested this week after police acted on a tip-off as a group attempted to depart on a flight to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. Among those charged is a prominent radio presenter; all five face charges under South Africa’s law that prohibits providing foreign military assistance without government authorisation. Their next court appearance was scheduled for a bail hearing.

Legal framework

Under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act (1998), South Africans must obtain permission from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee before serving in or assisting foreign militaries. The law also prohibits mercenary activities—recruiting, training, financing, or participating in such operations—and carries penalties including fines and imprisonment. South Africa’s constitution and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (1997) also prohibit human trafficking and forced labour.

Zuma-Sambudla’s response

Zuma-Sambudla has told authorities she was deceived by a WhatsApp contact and describes herself as a victim of the scheme. She said she travelled to Russia, observed what she describes as non-combat activities, and later appealed to Russian officials and the South African embassy on behalf of those who were sent into combat. She resigned from parliament saying she wanted to focus on helping families secure the return of loved ones and has denied any intentional wrongdoing. Police have not charged her; authorities say decisions on criminal charges will follow the ongoing investigation.

Political and family fallout

The allegations have intensified tensions within the Zuma family and reignited controversy around the former president, whose tenure was marked by corruption investigations. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is a polarising figure in South African politics and faced separate court proceedings earlier in the year related to alleged involvement in the 2021 unrest.

Regional context

Officials across the region have warned of scams and trafficking networks promising overseas work or security positions, with reports of recruitment that exposes people to military or forced-labour situations abroad. Governments have issued advisories and undertaken rescues in related cases in other countries.

Current status: The matter remains under investigation. Several people have been charged in a related recruitment probe, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to repatriate those on the front lines, and Zuma-Sambudla maintains she did not knowingly place anyone in harm’s way.