Pretoria, South Africa – South African police have opened a major investigation targeting Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla , daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, for the alleged recruitment of 17 South African nationals sent to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

The case, which deeply embarrasses the Pretoria government, was triggered by an unexpected complaint from the Zuma family itself: Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube , Duduzile's half-sister, filed a sworn statement on Saturday, November 22, claiming that eight of the trapped men are her relatives.

The scheme: training bodyguards on the Donbass front

The events date back to July, when 17 men, aged 20 to 39, left South Africa under false pretenses . They believed they were attending bodyguard training for the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, founded by Jacob Zuma.

According to the police, the reality was quite different:

1. Upon arriving in Russia , they were allegedly forced to sign military contracts written entirely in Russian .
2. They were then deployed to the front in the Donbass region .
3. The families lost contact in August.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that "these men were lured to Russia under false pretenses, then handed over to a group of Russian mercenaries to fight in the war in Ukraine, without their knowledge or consent."

The case was immediately handed over to the Hawks , the elite police unit specializing in crimes against the state. The complaint alleges violations of laws relating to human trafficking, regulations governing foreign military assistance, and fraud.

WhatsApp messages as evidence

WhatsApp messages reviewed by Bloomberg reveal the recruits' growing anxiety. Despite assurances from Zuma-Sambudla that the men would not be sent into combat, they quickly reported that they were approaching a war zone.

"Right now, we are packing our bags and preparing to leave for the war zone," one of the young men reportedly wrote to Duduzile Zuma, questioning the confiscation of his phone and bank cards.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, an influential MK party MP, has made no public statement and her legal representative has not responded to media requests for comment.

Government involvement and international context

The case took on a national dimension after the South African presidency received distress calls from men trapped in Donbas in early November. President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an investigation, and the government is working through diplomatic channels to secure their repatriation.

This situation arises as Ukraine intensifies its warnings. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga recently stated that 1,436 African nationals from 36 countries had been identified within the Russian ranks. Olexander Shcherba, former Ukrainian ambassador to South Africa, issued a plea: "Don't do this to your mothers, fathers, and sisters."

It is worth recalling that it is illegal for South Africans to join a foreign army without the explicit permission of the government. Russia faces similar accusations from India, Nepal, Kenya, and other developing countries, which denounce the recruitment of their citizens under false pretenses.

Legal precedents for Zuma-Sambudla

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is already facing legal troubles. She is currently on trial in the Durban High Court for inciting terrorism and public violence for her alleged role in the deadly riots of July 2021, which followed her father's imprisonment. She has pleaded not guilty in this trial.

The families of the 17 men are anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones trapped in the conflict zone.