Reuters
—
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned from parliament after being accused of luring 17 people to fight for Russia in Ukraine, her party announced on Friday.
Zuma-Sambudla was a member of the opposition Umkhonto Wisizwe (MK) party led by her father. MK officials said she resigned voluntarily and that her resignation from parliament and all other public roles was effective immediately.
MK party national organizer Nati Nhleko told reporters that MK was not involved in recruiting the men to Russia and that Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation was not an admission of guilt, but added that MK would help support the men’s families.
“National officials accepted Comrade Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s decision to resign and supported her efforts to safely bring these young South Africans back to their families,” he said.
Zuma-Sambudra was present at the press conference but did not speak, and has not publicly responded to his half-sister’s accusations.
The South African government announced this month that 17 of its citizens were stranded in Ukraine’s Donbas region after being tricked into fighting as mercenaries under the guise of lucrative employment contracts. Authorities said they were working to bring them home and were investigating how they got there.
On Sunday, police announced an investigation after Zuma Sambudra’s half-sister accused her and two others of involvement and formally requested an investigation.
Kiev’s foreign minister said this month that more than 1,400 nationals from 30 African countries were fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, and called on countries to warn their citizens about conscription.
