Jacob Zuma's Daughter Resigns Amid Allegations of South Africans Deceived into Fighting for Russia

One of the daughters of former South African president Jacob Zuma has resigned as an MP, after being alleged of tricking seventeen citizens into fighting for Russia in Ukraine by convincing them they were travelling to Russia to train as security personnel for the Zumas’ political party.

Resignation Announcement

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, 43, prominently involved in political activities of her siblings, offered to resign and step back from official duties while working with a police investigation and striving to bring the men home, the MK chair, Nkosinathi Nhleko, stated at a press conference in Durban.

Another MK official, told reporters: “To our knowledge, the resignation has got no connection to accepting responsibility or the organisation finding her guilty,” adding that the political group had not been participated with the individuals who found themselves stranded on the frontline of the war in Ukraine.

Legal Allegations

On 22 November, a different daughter of Zuma, Zuma-Mncube, filed a police report alleging that her sibling Zuma-Sambudla and two others, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, had enlisted the men, including eight of their family members. She did not propose a motive for her sister’s supposed enlistment in the declaration she made to police.

Zuma-Sambudla then submitted an sworn statement of her own, claiming she was “a victim of trickery, misrepresentation and manipulation” by Khoza after the men were brought in for what she had believed was a authorized security preparation program.

Training Experience

She stated she traveled to the country herself for a month of the instruction, in excerpts from her statement to police: “I underwent only non-combat, controlled activities. I was never exposed to combat, never deployed.”

She claimed that she had “provided details without malice” with others, who then volunteered to go to Russia themselves. She added: “I would not, intentionally expose my own family or any other individual to danger.”

Media Reports

A local news source the media organization reported it had received recordings from several individuals trapped in Ukraine, in which they alleged Zuma-Sambudla persuaded them to agree to terms in the local language that they did not understand and said she would remain for twelve months in Russia preparing with them.

Political Context

Zuma, MK party’s president, was at the press conference but did not address the audience. The 83-year-old has been married six times and presently has multiple spouses and more than 20 children. Multiple marriages is accepted in South Africa via a regulation governing “customary” marriages.

The former president was ousted as South Africa’s president in 2018, after being accused of overseeing a era of significant graft known as “state capture”, claims he has always denied. He established MK party in December 2023, securing a significant portion of the vote in the recent polls.

Investigation Status

Earlier this week, law enforcement verified they were investigating, after obtaining both affidavits. Zuma-Sambudla did not return calls and communications seeking comment. The other accused could not be contacted for comment.

Earlier last month the office of South Africa’s president, the current leader, said it was examining how the men became trapped in the conflict region and was making efforts to bring them home, after receiving “distress calls for assistance”.

Enlistment Claims

The men “were enticed to join private military groups participating in the ongoing conflict under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts”, it said, stating that South Africans were not allowed to support or fight for overseas armies without official approval.

Social Media Posts

Zuma-Sambudla has consistently posted her support for Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, online. “We Love You Both LOUDLY And UNAPOLOGETICALLY So … I celebrate this” she posted on the platform, then Twitter, with a image of her parent and Putin celebrating, on 22 February 2022, the day Russia invaded Ukraine. In May, she posted: “I Stand With Russia,” with pictures of the cultural site in the Russian city, although it was not clear if she had taken the photos herself or when they were taken.

Political Relations

The ANC, which forced Zuma to stand down as president in 2018, has historically been close to Russia after the Soviet Union supported its fight against apartheid. The administration, whose international relations is still controlled by the party although it is now in a coalition, has refrained from condemning Russia for entering Ukraine. Efforts have been made to portray the nation as a impartial mediator in the search for a ceasefire agreement.

Court Case

The individual is on trial on charges of provoking unrest in posts on X, during deadly riots that erupted in 2021 when her parent was sent to jail for contempt of court. She has denied the claims.