Zuma’s Daughter Accused Of Recruiting 17 South Africans To Fight For Russia; Police Probe Possible Human Trafficking

Zuma Family Rift Deepens As Allegations Surface Over Recruitment To Russia

Family tensions may intensify for former South African president Jacob Zuma after a criminal complaint by his eldest daughter accused her half-sister of helping recruit 17 South African men to fight with Russian forces in Ukraine. The allegations have prompted a police probe into possible human trafficking, illegal recruitment and exploitation.

What Happened

Authorities say the 17 men ended up in the Donbas region of Ukraine after being offered what they were told were legitimate paramilitary training or lucrative overseas jobs. The government was alerted when the men made distress calls seeking help to return home. Officials say the recruits were reportedly misled into joining Russian-affiliated forces under the pretext of employment.

Accusations And Resignation

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, 43, one of Jacob Zuma's many children and a vocal supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, resigned from Parliament last week after her half-sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, filed a criminal complaint alleging Duduzile played a role in recruiting the men. Zuma-Sambudla has not publicly answered those specific accusations but has said she was misled by a contact and pledged to cooperate with investigators.

Defense Statement

According to an affidavit reported in local media, Zuma-Sambudla says she was contacted on WhatsApp by someone identifying as 'Khoza,' a South African living in Russia who claimed to have links to a legitimate, non-combat paramilitary training programme. She says she trained in Russia for a month without encountering combat, then recommended 22 people — including relatives — to join; 17 of those who travelled are now reportedly in north Donetsk serving with Russian forces. She says she too was manipulated into believing the programme was lawful and safe.

Legal And Political Context

Under South African law it is illegal to serve in a foreign military without government approval. The opposition Democratic Alliance has filed criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla after speaking with the families of the men. Separately, prosecutors say Zuma-Sambudla faces charges related to alleged incitement to commit terrorism and public violence stemming from social-media activity during the 2021 riots that followed Jacob Zuma's imprisonment; she has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Chris Hattingh, the Democratic Alliance's spokesperson on defence and military veterans, told SABC that families described recruits being "totally misled" — arriving in Russia under the guise of training, then having clothes and passports burned and phones taken until contact was cut off.

Broader Pattern Of Recruitment

Analysts and officials say this case mirrors broader recruitment networks that target African nationals with misleading social-media adverts promising fast visas, good pay (advertised up to $2,500 a month) and free healthcare. Paul Mudau, a senior lecturer at the University of South Africa, told reporters that scammers often lure recruits via Telegram and Facebook, after which some recruits say they were detained, forced to sign contracts in Russian and deployed with minimal training.

International Responses And Numbers

CNN sought comment from Russia's military and foreign ministry. In November, Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia had no information about the South African nationals and had not yet been approached by Pretoria; she added Moscow would consider any official request under established procedures. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said more than 1,400 citizens from 36 African countries have fought for Russia, a claim he says reflects wider recruitment patterns. Western intelligence estimates cited in reporting suggest heavy Russian casualties since 2022, though precise figures remain contested.

Regional Echoes

Similar controversies have emerged in other African countries, including Kenya, where officials are working to repatriate more than 200 nationals believed to have been recruited to the conflict. Local reporting has described cases in which recruits were promised civilian jobs but later deployed to combat zones.

The South African police said they are investigating whether crimes including human trafficking, illegal recruitment, exploitation or fraud contributed to the movement of these individuals to the conflict zone. The investigation is ongoing.

Reporting contributions attributed to CNN. This article synthesizes public statements, affidavits and government commentary to present a clear timeline and legal context.