Zuma’s daughter quits parliament over alleged role in sending South Africans to fight in Ukraine

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a member of parliament for her father’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which won 14.6% of the vote in the 2024 national elections, has reportedly resigned amid rising legal and political pressures.

Her resignation comes shortly after her eldest sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, filed a criminal complaint at the Sandton Police Station, accusing Zuma-Sambudla and two others, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, of luring 17 men to join Russian mercenary forces.

Zuma-Mncube accused the three of breaking laws against people trafficking, providing assistance to foreign militaries, and fraud.

“These men were lured to Russia under false pretences and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine war without their knowledge or consent. Among these 17 men, who are requesting the South African government for assistance, are eight of my family members.” She said in a statement.

Prior to the accusations leveled against her, the 43-year-old daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma was already facing prosecution over social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, linked to deadly riots in 2021 that erupted after her father was jailed for contempt of court, allegations she has consistently denied.

Sambudla-Zuma said she was also a victim, lured by a contact known to her as “Khoza.” “Khoza represented himself as a South African citizen residing in Russia who had connections to a legitimate paramilitary training programme in Russia. Our interaction began entirely because he approached me, not the other way around. I relied on the information he provided in good faith, as I had no reason at that time to suspect fraud or misrepresentation.”

She said Khoza assured her the programme was lawful, non-combat, skills-based, safe, and open to civilians, and that she participated in a month-long training without engaging in combat. “Based on my own experience, I believed that the programme was lawful and safe. But I too was manipulated and used to create a false impression of legitimacy,” she said.

Sambudla-Zuma added that the 22 individuals, including family and friends, joined voluntarily. “I shared information innocently, and they chose to join of their own volition; I did not persuade, pressure, or coerce any of them. The fact that my own family members elected to travel and participate serves as clear evidence that I neither knew nor had any reason to suspect that the programme was unlawful, unsafe, or in any way dangerous,” she said.

Zuma‑Sambudla’s resignation compounds her legal troubles, including charges related to the 2021 riots that left at least 300 people dead, allegations she denies, calling them politically motivated.