The daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, has resigned from the National Assembly and stepped down from all party roles, following accusations that she misled 17 South African men into travelling to Russia under the guise of bodyguard training — only for them to end up fighting in Ukraine’s war. 

The allegations emerged when another of Zuma’s children filed a police complaint claiming the men, including eight relatives, were promised security-guard training in Russia for the party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), but were instead handed over to mercenary forces engaged in the conflict. 

MK party officials say her resignation was voluntary and should not be taken as an admission of guilt. They stressed the party was not involved in recruiting the men, but said Zuma-Sambudla’s departure came as she committed to cooperate fully with police and help repatriate the affected individuals. 

Zuma-Sambudla, 43, previously faced separate charges for allegedly inciting the 2021 riots via social media, a case still before the courts. 

The case casts a spotlight on growing concerns over recruitment of foreign fighters from Africa by Russian-aligned forces, highlighting the dangers of deceptive recruitment networks promising jobs or training abroad. It also raises fresh questions about oversight and accountability within political movements, especially where trust and familial ties are deeply entwined.

For South Africa’s political landscape, this scandal risks undermining confidence in MK, already controversial and newly formed after Zuma’s departure from the former ruling party. For the individuals involved — and their families — it underscores the vulnerability of young people navigating economic hardship and political uncertainty, and how easily they can be drawn into conflict under false pretences.

With police investigations ongoing and efforts under way to secure safe return of the stranded men, all eyes remain on authorities, MK leadership and Zuma-Sambudla’s next moves.