Hawks investigate Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's alleged recruitment of South African men for the Ukraine-Russia conflict

AN investigation has been launched against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla over the alleged recruitment of young men for Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks, is currently probing a case against Zuma-Sambudla, an MK Party Member of Parliament.

The scrutiny follows serious allegations concerning her alleged involvement in the recruitment of 17 young men, most of whom hail from KwaZulu-Natal, who are reportedly ensnared in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

These allegations were brought to light by one of Zuma-Sambudla’s sisters, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, who submitted an affidavit requesting a formal investigation.

In her sworn statement, Zuma-Mncube accused her sister, along with collaborators Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, of luring the young men to Russia under misleading pretences. She claims they were subsequently handed over to a Russian mercenary group to participate in the brutal war.

The police confirmed reports that another daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, opened a criminal case against her sister, Zuma-Sambudla, as well as Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, in relation to this alleged recruitment.

Zuma-Mncube has accused all three of contravening the law; she claims that the men were lured to Russia under false pretences and were handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukraine-Russia war.  

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo said the matter will be taken up with the Director for Public Prosecutions as the investigation kicks off, after the SAPS indicated that an inquiry docket has been registered - charges are 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.

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, they 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 gotten any help.”  

Zuma-Mncube, the eldest daughter of Jacob Zuma opened the case at the Sandton police station.

National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that following an initial inquiry, the case has been escalated to the Crimes Against the State (CATS) component, part of the Hawks, for further investigation.

“I can confirm that Zuma-Mncube had presented herself to the Sandton police station, where she urged the state to investigate three individuals whom she accused of luring 17 South African men to Russia under false pretences,” Mathe stated.

Early this month, the South African government said it was investigating how 17 citizens, mostly young men from KwaZulu-Natal, ended up trapped in Ukraine’s war-torn Donbas region after being lured with false job promises.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also condemned the recruitment as illegal under the Foreign Military Assistance Act and ordered officials to assist in their safe return.

Legal analyst, Ulrich Roux, told Newzroom Afrika that it may be difficult to prove that the 17 South African men were recruited under false pretences and that they did not know that they were being sent to a war zone.

"One of the difficulties that I do foresee is that, they are going to have to prove that these 17 individuals, who are now stuck in limbo, were not aware of what the actual situation was, and that they would be drafted into fighting in this war," he said.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE