Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is facing human-trafficking and fraud charges, laid by her half-sister, for allegedly duping members of the MK party to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine. (Photo: Gallo Images / Luba Lesolle) 
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has resigned from Parliament as an MP for the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party with “immediate effect” following allegations that she recruited individuals for military training in Russia, which led to them fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war against their will.
The party’s national chairperson, Nathi Nhleko, announced Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation on Friday, 28 November, during a media briefing in Durban.
News24 reported that the men believed they were going to Russia for “bodyguard training’’ in Russia, but were instead given military training, forced to sign contracts they did not understand and then sent to the frontlines of the war against Ukraine. Zuma-Sambudla is alleged to have recruited the men.
Her own half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, laid human-trafficking and fraud charges against her, as Daily Maverick reported.
Some of the recruits are members of the Zuma family, alleged Zuma-Mncube.
Zuma-Mncube also laid charges related to the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, and the Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Read more: Can SA prosecute the 17 men who say they were duped into war in Ukraine?
The Presidency said earlier in November that it had received “distress” calls from 17 South African citizens who had been lured into fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities,” the Presidency said.
‘Sensitive issue’
On Friday, Zuma-Sambudla did not speak during the briefing, but shook her head when journalists asked whether this meant she had also resigned from the party.
Nhleko said Zuma-Sambudla briefed party officials on the matter during a bimonthly meeting, which was attended by party leader, her father, Jacob Zuma.
At the meeting, Nhleko said, she gave a “full report” on her involvement. Nhleko said the party was “not involved” in the matter, despite party members being recruited to train in Russia.
This ultimately led to her resignation, which will allow Zuma-Sambudla to deal with the matter, including her own charges against Blessing Khoza, whom she accused of co-recruiting the men into the war.
The MK party said it will also engage with the families of those affected in the “sensitive” matter.
Several times during the short briefing, Magasela Mzobe, head of the presidency within the MK party, repeated that this was a “sensitive issue”.
He also reiterated Nhleko’s comments that the party was not involved in the ongoing war.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) laid criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla on Thursday, 27 November, in relation to human trafficking and contravention of the country’s laws around anti-mercenary involvement. The party was also aiming to file a complaint against her with Parliament’s ethics committee.
The DA also wanted a joint meeting with the Defence and International Relations oversight committees over the unfolding situations.
Zuma-Sambudla is still on trial for inciting terrorism and public violence, related to the July 2021 unrest. DM