Duduzile Zuma declares herself a victim in affidavit against alleged mercenary recruiter

Duduzile Zuma Sambudla has declared under oath that she was not the mastermind behind a so-called mercenary recruitment programme to Russia, but rather the first victim of an elaborate deception that saw more than a dozen South Africans now feared to have been taken toward a conflict zone.

Her sworn affidavit, submitted to the Sandton Police Station on Monday afternoon, presents a version of events that contrasts with the public allegations made by her sister, Nkosazana Zuma Mncube, The Star reported.

On Saturday, Zuma Mncube accused the Member of Parliament and two others of “tricking 17 men into fighting for Russian mercenaries,” claiming the recruits had been told they were travelling to Russia to train as bodyguards for Mkhonto weSizwe Party.

The South African government confirmed it had received calls from 17 citizens who believed they had been misled into joining mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The men, aged 20 to 39, stated they had been lured by promises of lucrative contracts.

Zuma Sambudla describes herself as blindsided, manipulated and “a victim of deception, misrepresentation, and manipulation.” At the centre of her account is a man identified as Blessing Rhulani Khoza, whom she claims she had neither met nor had any prior knowledge of before he contacted her through WhatsApp.

“Prior to this unsolicited message, I had no relationship, acquaintance, or prior knowledge of this person whatsoever,” she writes, detailing how Khoza had portrayed himself as a South African residing in Russia with access to what he described as a lawful, structured, non-combat paramilitary training programme designed for civilians. According to her affidavit, he repeatedly assured her that the programme was safe, skills-based, and legitimate.

Khoza was not available for comment.

Believing his assurances, Zuma Sambudla travelled to Russia at her own expense, where she completed one month of what she now perceives as surface-level training. “I experienced only non-combat, controlled activities. I was never exposed to combat, never deployed,” she states.

Because her experience seemed harmless and legitimate, she was confident the programme was exactly as Khoza had claimed. When she was later informed that more participants could be accommodated, she innocently shared this information with relatives and close family friends, insisting she never recruited or lured anyone.

“I shared information innocently. They chose to join on their voluntary interest,” she explains. Her own family members travelled to Russia, an indication to her that she had no awareness of any danger. “I would not, under any circumstances, knowingly expose my own family or any other person to harm,” she asserted.

Ultimately, 22 South Africans went to Russia. Three failed medical requirements and returned home, while 19 remained. Zuma Sambudla expressed devastation upon learning that the participants had allegedly been taken toward a conflict zone. “This discovery caused me profound shock and distress. It was at this point that I realised that both I and the others had been scammed,” she writes.

In an urgent attempt to assist, she flew back to Russia for two weeks, filing appeals to Russian officials and seeking support from the South African embassy. “My actions were taken urgently, at personal cost, and solely out of concern for the safety of the affected South Africans,” she stated.

Zuma Sambudla concludes her affidavit by rejecting the accusations made against her. “I was not a recruiter, agent, operator, or facilitator of any unlawful activity,” she writes. She has offered full cooperation to investigators and has provided communications, documents, and devices for forensic analysis.

As the inquiry continues, her affidavit transforms what appeared to be a story of calculated recruitment into a narrative of potential manipulation. 

IOL