Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned as a Member of Parliament and from all party structures of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. This decision comes amid allegations that she recruited 17 young South African men to fight for Russia in the Ukraine war under false pretenses, promising them high-paying civilian jobs abroad .
The men, now stranded in Russia, were allegedly handed over to a Russian mercenary group and forced to fight in the war. Zuma-Sambudla denies any wrongdoing and has opened a counter-case against an individual she accuses of being the real recruiter. However, the Democratic Alliance has laid formal human-trafficking charges against her .
The MK Party claims Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation is voluntary, allowing her to focus on humanitarian efforts to bring the affected men home. The party has distanced itself from the controversy, stating it was not involved in luring the men to Russia .
Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation has sparked widespread debate, with the Democratic Alliance calling it a “first step toward full criminal accountability”. The South African government is investigating the allegations and working to repatriate the stranded men .
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