EXCLUSIVE: Duduzile Sambudla Zuma denies recruiting South Africans for combat in Ukraine

Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, has denied all suggestions that she recruited 22 South Africans, including her own family members, as mercenaries for the Russia-Ukraine war.

Sambudla-Zuma asserted that she had no intention of facilitating, recruiting, or encouraging participation in combat or unlawful activities in a statement submitted to police, which the Daily News has seen.

Her clarification regarding the Russia-Ukraine issue came after her eldest sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, opened a criminal case against her over the weekend at the Sandton Police Station.

Zuma-Mncube also pressed charges against Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, whom she claimed worked in cahoots with Sambudla-Zuma. She alleged that the three played key roles in luring South African men to Russia under false pretences, where they were then handed over to a mercenary outfit operating in Ukraine.

However, Sambudla-Zuma claimed she was also a victim in this matter, as she was lured by a contact known to her as “Khoza.”

According to her, Khoza first made contact with her via the WhatsApp social media platform, but she had no previous relationship with him.

“Khoza represented himself as a South African citizen residing in Russia who had connections to a legitimate paramilitary training programme in Russia.

"Our interaction began entirely because he approached me, not the other way around. I relied on the information he provided in good faith, as I had no reason at that time to suspect fraud or misrepresentation.”

Sambudla-Zuma said Khoza claimed he could facilitate access to a lawful, structured, non-combat paramilitary training programme in Russia, and was explicit and insistent that the programme was legitimate, non-combat, skills-based, safe, and open to civilians.

She stated that Khoza in no way suggested that the programme would entail any military participation or that the 22 South Africans would be placed in a conflict zone, used in combat, or exposed to danger. She subsequently realised that Khoza’s representations were false and deliberately misleading.

Sambudla-Zuma said she enlisted for the programme and travelled to Russia for training that lasted a month, during which time she did not engage in any combat and was not exposed to any form of combat.

“Based on my own experience, I believed that the programme was lawful and safe. But I too was manipulated and used to create a false impression of legitimacy.”

While she was in training, Sambudla-Zuma learned that the programme could accommodate more participants.

On her recommendation, a group of 22 individuals, including members of her family and relatives of close friends, arrived in Russia for the same programme.

“These individuals arrived approximately one week after my own arrival. I shared information innocently, and they chose to join of their own volition; I did not persuade, pressure, or coerce any of them.

"The fact that my own family members elected to travel and participate serves as clear evidence that I neither knew nor had any reason to suspect that the programme was unlawful, unsafe, or in any way dangerous,” she said.

Sambudla-Zuma has since brought various charges against Khoza, including fraud, misrepresentation, trafficking in persons for purposes of exploitation, and the unlawful movement of South African citizens into or toward an active conflict zone.

She assured that she would fully cooperate with the SAPS and any other authority.

Sandile Ndhlovu, the brother of one of the men, told SABC News that the recruits joined under false pretences, as they had been promised VIP protection training but instead found themselves in a raging war.

“We’ve been trying to get hold of senior officials in government, and we actually wanted to get hold of the president. We want the government to assist us with this issue, but so far, we haven’t received any help,” said Ndhlovu.

Meanwhile, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), known as the Hawks, were currently investigating a case against Sambudla-Zuma.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo stated that the matter will be taken up with the Director for Public Prosecutions as the investigation commences.

The SAPS indicated that an inquiry docket had been registered, and charges were yet to be determined.

“An investigation is currently underway and will include engaging with witnesses, sources, and other relevant processes necessary to gather evidence. Once all evidence has been collected and the investigative steps are concluded, the matter will be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for a decision,” she said.

Legal analyst Ulrich Roux remarked that it may be difficult to prove that the group of South African men were recruited under false pretences and that they did not know they were being sent to a war zone.

"One of the difficulties that I foresee is that they will have to prove that these individuals, who are now stuck in limbo, were unaware of the actual situation and that they would be drafted into fighting in this war," he said.

DAILY NEWS