Scandal in South Africa: Former president’s daughter allegedly recruited mercenaries for war in Ukraine
Photo: Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma (pap.au.int)
South Africans were deceitfully sent to fight in Donbas under the guise of lucrative employment — the South African government has launched an investigation into the scandal. As a result, the daughter of a former president has already resigned from parliament, Reuters reports.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned from parliament and all state positions. She is accused of recruiting South Africans to take part in the war in Ukraine on Russia’s side.
Representatives of her party, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), insisted that her resignation was voluntary and not an admission of guilt. At the same time, the party says it is ready to support the families of citizens who ended up in the conflict zone.
The South African government reported that the affected citizens had been deceitfully forced to fight in Donbas under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts, and it is working on bringing them back home.
Police launched an investigation following a request from Zuma-Sambudla’s half-sister, who accused her and two other individuals of involvement.
Russia is actively recruiting foreigners
It is known that Russia has long been trying to attract Africans and Asians to expand its influence and promote the idea of the "Russian world" abroad.
According to Ukraine’s foreign minister, more than 1,400 citizens from African countries are fighting on Russia’s side, and governments are urging their citizens to avoid being recruited.
The South African government reported that 17 of its citizens were deceitfully forced to join the fighting in Donbas, having been lured with promises of well-paid jobs.
More details about how the recruitment works, what Africans do on the front line, cases of captivity, and their impressions of Russians can be found in RBC-Ukraine’s report.
