Zuma’s daughter probed for alleged role in recruiting fighters for Russia
South African police have begun an investigation into Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, after she was accused of helping recruit South Africans to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine.
The investigation was opened after her half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, filed an official complaint. She asked authorities to look into claims that Duduzile may have played a role in encouraging or helping people travel to join Russian forces.
The case gained attention earlier this month when 17 South African men called for urgent help, saying they were stranded in the Donbass region of Ukraine. The men said they had gone to the area believing they would receive work or support, but instead found themselves in a dangerous conflict zone. It still remains unclear how they got there, who recruited them, or what promises were made to them before they left South Africa.
As the situation unfolds, South Africa’s foreign affairs department has said it is working with international partners to verify the identities and conditions of the stranded men. Officials say they are exploring diplomatic channels to ensure the safe return of the group, while also gathering information that could support the ongoing police investigations.
While the government works to understand how the men reached Ukraine, attention has shifted to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who has already been facing serious legal issues.
On November 10, she appeared in court for her ongoing trial on charges of incitement to cause terrorism. These charges are linked to the violent riots that swept across South Africa in July 2021, where more than 350 people were killed and thousands of businesses were destroyed. The riots are considered the most deadly period of violence in South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Prosecutors accuse Duduzile of spreading messages on social media that encouraged unrest before and during the riots. She has denied the allegations.
The July 2021 riots began shortly after former President Jacob Zuma was jailed for refusing to obey a court order. He had been instructed to testify at an inquiry investigating widespread corruption during his presidency, which lasted from 2009 to 2018. His imprisonment triggered anger among some of his supporters, leading to widespread chaos.
Police say the new investigation into Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s alleged involvement in sending South Africans to fight in Ukraine will continue alongside her existing legal case. Officials say they hope the inquiry will clarify who was responsible for placing the 17 men in danger and whether any laws were broken in the process.
