Former South African President Zuma’s daughter resigns as MP after being accused of recruiting citizens for Russia

The MK leaders reported in a press conference that the resignation from the National Assembly and all public positions held by Zuma-Sambudla was “voluntary” and with “immediate effect”.

MK national organizer Nathi Nhleko said the party was not involved in the transfer of 17 South Africans to Russia and that the Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation does not constitute an admission of guilt, while adding that the party will provide support to the families of these citizens.

“National officials have accepted Comrade Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s decision to resign and support her efforts to ensure that these young South Africans return safely to their families,” Nhleko said.

Zuma-Sambudla was present during the press conference, but did not make any statements and did not respond to the accusations of his half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube.

The South African Police Force (SAPS) confirmed that it opened an investigation against Zuma-Sambudla following the Mncube affidavit in which he claimed that 17 South African men were “taken to Russia under false pretenses and handed over to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukrainian war without their knowledge or consent,” according to local media.

The South African Government reported at the beginning of the month that works on the repatriation of citizens, who were deceived with labor contracts and turned out to be linked to mercenary forces, and investigate how they arrived in the territory.

More than a thousand Africans in Ukraine

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated on November 7 that at least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries fight alongside Russian forcesalthough he warned that the number could be higher and asked African governments to alert their citizens about recruitment processes.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the presence of hundreds of Africans fighting on the Russian side. Although some were as mercenaries, others have denounced deception and coercion to join the Russian ranks.

However, the Countries of origin do not usually demand the release of these combatantssince some have Russian passports and several African nations have laws against dual citizenship.

Last September Kenya revealed that it was investigating reports that its nationals were allegedly “trafficked” to Russia and were being held as prisoners of war by Ukraine.

The authorities reported the return of at least three Kenyans in this situation, while the British network BBC reported the rescue in Nairobi of about twenty people who were victims of a trafficking network.