JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling for a thorough investigation into former MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.
She is accused of luring 18 men to fight in Russia’s war with Ukraine, under the guise of being sent for bodyguard training.
The DA has opened a criminal case against Zuma-Sambudla for her alleged central role in recruiting and trafficking the men to Russia
DA spokesperson on defence and military veterans, Chris Hattingh, says the party wants the matter “to be investigated properly and brought to a logical conclusion. We cannot lure vulnerable South Africans into the war in Ukraine.”
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He stressed that the charges were laid after careful consideration of new evidence presented to the party, including around 100 messages from a WhatsApp group allegedly administered by Zuma-Sambudla.
The DA says the messages show “clear coordination in luring [the] men to Russia under the guise of personal development, security training and even promises of Russian or Canadian citizenship”.
Hattingh further revealed that the men’s families had provided testimonies confirming a pattern of deception.
“One mother said her son was ‘excited for a new life’ and believed he would return with foreign citizenship, only to find himself trapped in a warzone,” he said.
The Hawks are investigating how the men were transported to Russia and the circumstances surrounding their stay.