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South Africa’s ex-president’s daughter probed over claims of luring men to Russian war
23rd November, 2025 09:02 PM
South African police said on Sunday, November 23, 2025, they will investigate Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, and two others for their alleged role in luring 17 men to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
The probe follows a formal request from Zuma-Sambudla’s half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, who asked authorities to look into the matter.
The South African presidency said earlier this month that it would investigate how the men, aged between 20 and 39, ended up joining mercenary forces after sending distress calls for help to return home.
“Ms Mncube claims the men were lured to Russia under false pretences and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukrainian war without their knowledge or consent,” police said in a statement. An enquiry docket has been handed over to the specialised Hawks unit for further investigation.
According to reports, the men believed they were travelling for security training. Instead, they ended up in Ukraine’s Donbas region, far from the plans they had been promised.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a senior lawmaker with her father’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) Party, has not publicly responded to the allegations. A legal representative for Zuma-Sambudla did not immediately comment when approached by the media.
The case adds to the controversy surrounding Zuma-Sambudla, who is already facing separate charges in the Durban High Court over incitement linked to the deadly 2021 riots. Authorities are yet to confirm whether additional suspects may be implicated as investigations continue.
South African police have urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the case, while emphasising that the Hawks unit is carrying out a thorough investigation to determine the facts surrounding the alleged recruitment of South African nationals into the conflict in Ukraine.
