South African police confirmed on Sunday that they are investigating claims that former President Jacob Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and two other people incited 17 people to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Another of Zuma’s daughters, Nkosazana Bongamini Zuma-Mncube, accused her half-sister of sending men to Russia before ordering them to the front lines.
“These people were brought to Russia under false pretenses and handed over to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine war without their knowledge or consent. Among these 17 people are eight of my family members,” Juma-Mancub said in a public statement.
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said it had received “distress calls for assistance in returning home from 17 South African men aged between 20 and 39 stranded in war-torn Donbass.”
South Africans are fighting for Russia in Ukraine
Juma-Sambudla, who is also a member of parliament for her father’s Umkhonto Wesizwe party (MK), did not immediately react to the allegations.
He reportedly told people that they would be trained as bodyguards to work for the party.
On 6 November, the South African Presidency said in a statement that the men had been promised “attractive employment contracts”. Ramaphosa ordered an investigation into how the men were recruited.
South African law prohibits citizens from fighting for foreign armies without government permission.
Zuma-Mancube urged the government to “expedite all diplomatic efforts to ensure the immediate and safe return of our citizens.”
Zuma-Sambudla are also facing trial for the deadly riots.
The latest police investigation comes as Zuma-Sambudla are already on trial on charges of inciting violence during riots in 2021 that left more than 300 people dead.
The unrest broke out in July 2021 after her father was arrested for disobeying a court order to testify in a corruption probe and turned into widespread looting.
She pleaded not guilty to the charge during a hearing in Zuma’s presence in early November.
He was the President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018.
MK was a major disruptor in last year’s national election, contributing to a sharp decline in support for the African National Congress, which was once led by Zuma.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery