Zuma Sisters At War! Nkosazana Lays Criminal Charges Against Duduzile Over ‘Ukraine Mercenary Scam’

Tensions inside one of South Africa’s most prominent political families have erupted into the public arena after Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, the eldest daughter of former president Jacob Zuma and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, laid criminal charges against her sister, Member of Parliament Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

The charges relate to the recruitment of 17 South African men who are now stranded in the Russia-Ukraine conflict after allegedly being lured abroad under false pretences.

Criminal Complaint Over ‘False Recruitment’

Zuma-Mncube confirmed in a statement circulating online that she approached the Sandton police station on Saturday to open a case against Zuma-Sambudla, Siphokazi Xuma, and Blessing Khoza.

She alleges the trio had central roles in enticing the group of men to Russia with promises of lucrative job opportunities, only for them to be handed over to a mercenary outfit operating in Ukraine.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Inxiweni Primary School Employee Arrested After Fatal Shooting Of Principal And Clerk

Eight of the 17 stranded men are her own relatives, and she insists none of them consented to being deployed to a war zone.

She maintains that their recruitment violates several laws, including the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, and common-law fraud.

The dramatic development comes as the South African government continues to investigate how the group ended up in the conflict zone.

Earlier this month, officials confirmed that the men, aged between 20 and 39, had made distress calls from the Donbas region, saying they had been misled by promises of high-paying opportunities abroad. Sixteen of the group are from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape.

Calls for Urgent Intervention

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya previously stated that the men were drawn into the conflict after being offered jobs and training opportunities that turned out to be false.

Some of the recruits reportedly signed documents they did not fully understand before being transported to eastern Ukraine.

International reports have also linked Zuma-Sambudla to earlier recruitment attempts involving South African youths sent to Russia for what was advertised as security training, although she has not publicly responded to the allegations.

Zuma-Mncube said she acted out of a strong moral obligation, emphasising the urgent need for the South African government to intervene to secure the safe return of the stranded men.

She also warned citizens to be wary of overseas employment offers that appear overly attractive, particularly when linked to regions experiencing active conflict.

Neither Zuma-Sambudla nor the MK Party has issued a response to the charges laid against her.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky