Duduzile Zuma files affidavit against Russian '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. 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, said they had been lured by promises of lucrative contracts.

She describes herself as blindsided, manipulated and “a victim of deception, misrepresentation and manipulation.”

At the center of her account is a man identified as Blessing Rhulani Khoza, whom she says she had never met or even heard 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.

Khoza, she says, portrayed himself as a South African living in Russia with access to what he described as a lawful, structured, non combat paramilitary training program designed for civilians. According to her affidavit, he repeatedly told her the program 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 describes 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 believed the program was exactly what Khoza had claimed it to be.

When she was later told that more participants could be accommodated, she shared the information with relatives and close family friends. She insists she never recruited or lured anyone.

“I shared information innocently. They chose to join on their voluntary interest,” she says.

Her own family members travelled. To her, that fact is proof she had no knowledge of any danger.

“I would not, under any circumstances, knowingly expose my own family or any other person to harm,” she states.

Twenty two South Africans went to Russia. Three failed medical requirements and returned home. Nineteen remained.

Zuma Sambudla says she was devastated when she learned 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 help, she flew back to Russia for two weeks, filing appeals to Russian officials and seeking assistance 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 states.

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 handed over communications, documents and devices for forensic analysis.

As the inquiry continues, her affidavit transforms what appeared to be a story of calculated recruitment into what may have been a manipulation. The men stranded in Russia are set to speak to The Star exclusively via video call on Tuesday afternoon. 

This is a developing story.