Zuma’s daughter accused in alleged recruitment of South Africans for Russia’s war

Africa (Journos News) – South African authorities are investigating allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, helped lure South African men into joining Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The case has drawn attention to the growing recruitment of Africans into the war and the legal risks facing those who serve in foreign militaries without approval.

Family tensions have surfaced within the Zuma household after Jacob Zuma’s eldest daughter accused her half-sister of misleading at least 17 men into traveling to Russia under the guise of employment and training. Several of those involved are reported to be relatives.

The allegations come as South Africa probes how its citizens became stranded in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, and amid broader international scrutiny of Russia’s use of foreign recruits to sustain its war effort.

Background to the Zuma family and Russia ties

Jacob Zuma, 83, served as South Africa’s president from 2009 until his resignation in 2018 following a series of corruption scandals. He was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) in 2024, the party he once led and which governed South Africa for three decades after apartheid.

Zuma received military training in the Soviet Union during apartheid, when the ANC maintained close ties with Moscow as part of its liberation struggle. Those historic links continue to shape political relationships between South Africa and Russia, despite Pretoria’s official stance of non-alignment in the Ukraine war.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, 43, is one of nearly two dozen children of the former president. She has publicly expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been an outspoken supporter of closer ties with Moscow on social media.

Allegations and resignation from parliament

The controversy escalated after Zuma-Sambudla resigned last week from South Africa’s parliament, where she represented the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, led by her father. Her resignation followed the filing of a criminal complaint by her older half-sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube.

The complaint was lodged after South African authorities confirmed they were investigating the circumstances under which 17 South Africans ended up in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Officials said they were alerted after receiving distress calls from the men asking for assistance to return home.

Last month, the government said the men had been “lured to join mercenary forces involved in the Ukraine-Russia war under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.” Zuma-Mncube alleged that Zuma-Sambudla and two other individuals played a role in facilitating their travel.

Zuma-Sambudla has not issued a public statement responding directly to the accusations. Under South African law, citizens are prohibited from serving in foreign military forces without explicit government authorization.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s second-largest political party, has also filed criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla following consultations with families of the affected men.

Previous legal troubles

Zuma-Sambudla is already facing separate legal proceedings. Prosecutors have charged her with incitement to commit terrorism and public violence, linked to social media posts during riots that erupted in 2021 after her father was imprisoned for contempt of court.

Those unrests resulted in more than 300 deaths and widespread destruction. Zuma was released from prison in 2023. Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty to the incitement charges.

Chris Hattingh, a DA lawmaker and spokesperson on defence and military veterans, said he had spoken with multiple families connected to the case. Speaking to South Africa’s public broadcaster SABC, he said their accounts were consistent.

According to Hattingh, the men believed they were traveling to Russia for personal development and security training. “They were totally misled,” he said, adding that once in Russia, their passports and phones were allegedly confiscated and contact with families gradually ceased.

Zuma-Sambudla’s account

In her defence, Zuma-Sambudla has denied intentionally recruiting South Africans to fight in the Ukraine war. In an affidavit submitted to police and cited by the Durban-based Daily News newspaper, she said she herself had been deceived.

She claimed she was contacted via WhatsApp by a man identified as “Khoza,” who described himself as a South African living in Russia with links to a legitimate paramilitary training programme that did not involve combat.

According to the affidavit, Zuma-Sambudla participated in the programme for about a month and said she was not exposed to combat. Believing it to be lawful and safe, she then recommended the programme to 22 other people, including family members.

Of those who initially traveled, 17 South Africans are now reportedly in northern Donetsk as part of Russian forces. “Based on my own experience, I believed that the program was lawful and safe,” she was quoted as saying, adding that she too had been “manipulated and used to create a false impression of legitimacy.”

She has reportedly told authorities she will cooperate fully with the investigation.

Official investigations and Russian response

South African police said they are examining whether criminal offences, including human trafficking, illegal recruitment, exploitation, or fraud, contributed to the men’s movement to the conflict zone.

Russia has previously denied pressuring foreigners to enlist. The Russian foreign ministry said in November that it had no information about the South African nationals and had not yet received formal communication from Pretoria.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia would consider any official request “in accordance with existing procedure” and in the spirit of its strategic partnership with South Africa.

Broader recruitment concerns

The case has reignited debate over Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals, particularly from Africa. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said last month that more than 1,400 citizens from 36 African countries are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Western intelligence agencies estimate that Russia has suffered more than one million casualties, including over 250,000 deaths, since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The UK defence ministry has said around 1,000 Russian soldiers are killed or wounded each day, though casualty figures remain difficult to verify independently.

Similar concerns have emerged elsewhere on the continent. Kenya is seeking the release of more than 200 of its nationals believed to be involved in the conflict, and Kenyan authorities say recruitment networks remain active. Local media recently reported the death of a Kenyan man who had traveled to Russia for what he believed was a civilian driving job.

Legal scholars and analysts say recruitment often begins with online scams. Paul Mudau, a senior lecturer in public and international law at the University of South Africa, said recruiters frequently advertise jobs on platforms such as Telegram and Facebook.

“Scammers handle the initial lure,” he said, adding that once recruits arrive in Russia, they may be detained, forced to sign contracts in Russian, and deployed with minimal training.