Former South African President Jacob Zuma’s daughter has resigned as an MP amid allegations that she helped recruit 17 men to fight for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, an MP from the opposition uMkhonto weSizwe party, is accused of tricking the 17 men to fight against Russia as mercenaries. The men were told they were being sent to Russia for bodyguard training through the party, but were instead subjected to a military training and to the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war. Sambudla said in affidavit that she believed the men – aged as young as 19 – were going to Russia for a “lawful” training. She denied allegations of recruiting mercenaries for Russia’s war, asserting her innocence and describing herself as a victim of misinformation.
“The MK Party was never involved in the matter of these South Africans going to Ukraine. Actually, the MK Party was never involved, and in the affidavit that comrade Dudu made with police, she nowhere claims that the MK party was involved,” said the head of the party’s presidency, Magasela Mzobe.
The former MP said she resigned voluntarily on Friday morning. The formal request for a probe into Zuma-Sambudla was made by her half-sister. Police announced the launching of investigation into the MP’s case on Sunday.
Over 1,400 citizens from across African countries are fighting alongside the Russian army in the war of invasion in Ukraine, Kyiv’s foreign minister said earlier month, urging countries to warn their citizens about recruitment.
