IN CONVERSATION WITH TEBOGO MASHILOPANE( national leader of FOSA)
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South African authorities have launched an investigation into allegations that
one of former president Jacob Zuma’s daughters, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla,
misled several men into travelling to Russia, where they were allegedly
forced to fight in the war in Ukraine.
The case was opened by Zuma’s other daughter, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube,
who filed a police report on Saturday. In her statement, she claimed that
Zuma-Sambudla, along with Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, recruited
17 men under the guise of a paramilitary training opportunity in Russia.
Those men are now reportedly stranded on the frontlines of the Ukraine
conflict.
A copy of Zuma-Mncube’s statement, shared by local media, said:
“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.”
Zuma-Mncube accused the trio of contravening laws related to human
trafficking, assisting foreign armed forces, and fraud. She said she opened the
case out of a “moral obligation”. Police have confirmed receipt of her
statement.
According to Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo, the elite crime-fighting
unit has taken over the investigation. “The investigation is still at an early
stage, with the docket received only on Sunday, so there is nothing much to
report except that the investigation is under way,” she said.
News24 reported that it had received video messages from three of the men
allegedly trapped in Ukraine. In the videos, the men claim Zuma-Sambudla
encouraged them to sign Russian-language contracts they could not
understand and told them she would be spending a year in Russia training
alongside them.
In a twist, Zuma-Sambudla has reportedly filed her own charges against
Blessing Khoza, alleging she herself was misled into recruiting participants
for what she believed was a legitimate training programme. The Daily News
reported on these counter-allegations.
Mbambo confirmed the Hawks have also received Zuma-Sambudla’s
allegations but would not disclose further details. Zuma-Sambudla has not
responded to requests for comment. Attempts to reach Xuma and Khoza
were unsuccessful.
one of former president Jacob Zuma’s daughters, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla,
misled several men into travelling to Russia, where they were allegedly
forced to fight in the war in Ukraine.
The case was opened by Zuma’s other daughter, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube,
who filed a police report on Saturday. In her statement, she claimed that
Zuma-Sambudla, along with Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, recruited
17 men under the guise of a paramilitary training opportunity in Russia.
Those men are now reportedly stranded on the frontlines of the Ukraine
conflict.
A copy of Zuma-Mncube’s statement, shared by local media, said:
“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.”
Zuma-Mncube accused the trio of contravening laws related to human
trafficking, assisting foreign armed forces, and fraud. She said she opened the
case out of a “moral obligation”. Police have confirmed receipt of her
statement.
According to Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo, the elite crime-fighting
unit has taken over the investigation. “The investigation is still at an early
stage, with the docket received only on Sunday, so there is nothing much to
report except that the investigation is under way,” she said.
News24 reported that it had received video messages from three of the men
allegedly trapped in Ukraine. In the videos, the men claim Zuma-Sambudla
encouraged them to sign Russian-language contracts they could not
understand and told them she would be spending a year in Russia training
alongside them.
In a twist, Zuma-Sambudla has reportedly filed her own charges against
Blessing Khoza, alleging she herself was misled into recruiting participants
for what she believed was a legitimate training programme. The Daily News
reported on these counter-allegations.
Mbambo confirmed the Hawks have also received Zuma-Sambudla’s
allegations but would not disclose further details. Zuma-Sambudla has not
responded to requests for comment. Attempts to reach Xuma and Khoza
were unsuccessful.
