Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, has resigned from her position as a member of the South African National Assembly, her party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), announced on Friday.

She had been sitting in the Assembly since 2024 under the banner of the opposition party led by her father.

Context: An investigation into incitement

This resignation comes as Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is under investigation for allegedly inciting 17 South Africans to join a group of Russian mercenaries involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

The 17 men, aged between 20 and 39, are believed to be trapped in the eastern Donbass region, and South African authorities are working to repatriate them.

The MK party's position

The MK party insists that the resignation is not an admission of guilt , but a measure to facilitate the investigation.

1. Cooperation with the authorities: Nkosinathi Nhleko, national chairman of MK, stated that Comrade Zuma-Sambudla was fully cooperating and submitting her resignation from her public responsibilities with immediate effect .
2. Desire to resolve the crisis: Magasela Mzobe, head of the party presidency, specified that the decision came from her, as a disciplined member of MK, who realized that the country had to " resolve the issue of the safe return of these young people to their country of origin ."
3. Released from her duties: She has therefore asked to be removed from her duties in order to " fully cooperate with all state bodies that want to discover the truth and bring these South Africans home safe and sound ."