DA formally lays charges against Zuma Sambudla for trafficking, has ‘new evidence’ on recruitment plan
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has today formally laid criminal charges against uMkhonto we Sizwe Party MP, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, for her alleged central role in recruiting and trafficking young South African men to Russia to fight in the Ukraine conflict.
Image: Supplied by the DA
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally laid criminal charges against uMkhonto we Sizwe Party MP, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, for her alleged central role in recruiting and trafficking young South African men to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine.
In a statement, Chris Hattingh, DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, said the charges were laid in terms of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act 15 of 1998.
The Mercury has reported that 17 South Africans, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal, are said to be trapped in that conflict and are desperate to return home. A mother of one of the men has pleaded for help from the government.
Former president Jacob Zuma’s eldest daughter, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma Mncube, opened a case against her sister, Zuma Sambudla, Siphokazi Xuma, and Blessing Khoza over the incident.
In response, Zuma Sambudla said in an affidavit to police that she was a victim in the matter and that Khoza had recruited people.
Hattingh said the DA had new evidence around the matter including around 100 WhatsApp messages from a group allegedly administered by Zuma-Sambudla.
He said these messages allegedly show clear coordination in luring at least 22 men to Russia under the guise of “personal development”, “security training”, and even promises of Russian or Canadian citizenship.
Hattingh said families of the men have independently provided consistent testimonies confirming the same pattern of deception.
One mother said her son was “excited for a new life” and believed he would return with foreign citizenship — only to find himself trapped in a warzone.
According to information gathered, once the men arrived in Russia:
- Their passports and clothing were burned,
- Their phones confiscated,
- And communication with families gradually cut off until it ceased entirely.
Of the 22 men who initially travelled, 19 remain in Russia — including 17 South Africans — now reportedly deployed in a “red zone” in North Donetsk as part of Russian forces. Three were returned early due to family connections to “Madiba”.
The charges laid today include human trafficking, contraventions of South Africa’s anti-mercenary legislation, and additional offences that the SAPS must now investigate.
“This scandal raises profound foreign policy concerns. South Africa has strict prohibitions on mercenary recruitment, yet Defence Intelligence and DIRCO remained publicly silent until today — despite indications that both the Presidency and former President Jacob Zuma were aware of the situation.
“While Minister Angie Motshekga has now confirmed that the State Security Agency is liaising with the Russian government, DIRCO continues to offer no explanation for its absence from this crisis. Their silence can only be interpreted as tacit support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This dangerous foreign policy ambiguity is already straining relations with South Africa’s major trading partners, who increasingly view the ANC’s political proximity to Russia as a growing security risk,” Hattingh said.