South African authorities have launched an investigation into Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, over her alleged involvement in recruiting South African nationals to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. The probe was initiated after a complaint was filed by her half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, who requested that the authorities look into the matter.
The investigation comes amid reports that 17 South African men are currently in Ukraine, reportedly fighting as mercenaries for Russia. The men, who are believed to be in the Donbass region, sent out distress calls in early November, appealing for evacuation. The circumstances surrounding their recruitment and deployment to Ukraine are still unclear.
Zuma-Sambudla, a member of the South African parliament representing her father’s Umkhoto we Sizwe party, is already facing charges related to incitement to cause terrorism. Her trial began on November 10, with the prosecution alleging that she incited public violence through social media posts made before and during the riots that swept South Africa in July 2021. The unrest, which left over 350 people dead, was the deadliest since the end of apartheid in 1994.
The rioting was sparked by the imprisonment of Jacob Zuma, who was sentenced to jail for defying a court order to testify at an inquiry investigating corruption during his presidency, which spanned from 2009 to 2018. Zuma-Sambudla’s social media posts, made in the lead-up to and during the riots, are alleged to have contributed to the violence.
The investigation into Zuma-Sambudla’s alleged role in recruiting mercenaries for Russia is a significant development, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the potential implications for South Africa’s foreign policy. As the probe continues, authorities will likely be working to establish the facts surrounding the recruitment and deployment of the South African men, as well as any potential links to Zuma-Sambudla or other individuals. The outcome of the investigation is likely to have significant repercussions, both domestically and internationally.
