Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, the firstborn daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma and former African Union leader Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, says she has opened a criminal case after 17 South African men, including eight members of her own family, were allegedly trafficked to Russia and forced to fight in the Ukraine war.
In a strongly worded statement, Zuma-Mncube said the men were lured to Russia under false pretences and then handed over to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the conflict without their consent. She said the men are now stranded and seeking urgent intervention from the South African government.
Zuma-Mncube confirmed that she opened a criminal case at the Sandton Police Station in Johannesburg on 22 November, alleging that those responsible violated several South African laws, including the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, and the Common Law Act of Fraud.
The individuals she accuses of playing key roles in the ordeal include:
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Zuma who is also on trial for alleged incitement of violence during the July 2021 unrest.
- Siphokazi Zuma, also one of Zuma’s daughters
- Blessing Khoza
The involvement of two of Jacob Zuma’s daughters in the alleged recruitment scheme marks a dramatic and politically sensitive turn, especially given previous controversies surrounding the former president’s family.
Zuma-Mncube said she felt “morally obligated” to take action, given that several victims are close relatives. She has appealed to the South African government to expedite all diplomatic efforts to bring the men home safely.
“I urge the South African government to expedite all diplomatic efforts to secure the immediate and safe return of our citizens,” she said.
She also cautioned South Africans against believing offers that promise lucrative opportunities abroad, particularly in or near conflict zones, saying the tragedy should serve as a warning to others.
The government has not yet issued a response to the allegations or confirmed efforts to repatriate the affected citizens.
Earlier this month, Live Africa News reported that the South African government said it had received distress calls from the men, aged between 20 and 39, who are seeking assistance to return home. According to government officials, the group, comprising 16 individuals from KwaZulu-Natal and one from the Eastern Cape, had been lured by promises of lucrative overseas employment, only to find themselves caught in the midst of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
President Cyril Ramaphosa directed law enforcement and intelligence agencies to investigate the recruitment process and identify those responsible for drawing the men into what appears to be mercenary activity.
