Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla: ‘I’m no mercenary recruiter — I was scammed’

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla

Durban  – Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says she was not behind the recruitment of South Africans for alleged mercenary work in Russia but was instead the first victim of an elaborate scam.

In a sworn affidavit submitted to the Sandton Police Station, she rejects accusations made by her sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, who claims she and others tricked 17 men into joining Russian mercenary forces after being told they were signing up for bodyguard training.

According to IOL, Zuma-Sambudla says she was misled by a man named Blessing Rhulani Khoza, who approached her via WhatsApp and presented what he described as a safe, legal civilian training programme in Russia.

Believing him, she travelled to Russia at her own expense and completed a month of what she describes as basic, non-combat training.

Convinced the programme was legitimate, she shared the information with relatives and close friends but insists she never recruited anyone.

“I would not, under any circumstances, knowingly expose my own family or any other person to harm,” the report quoted her as saying.

She added: “I was not a recruiter, agent, operator, or facilitator of any unlawful activity.”

A total of 22 South Africans eventually travelled to Russia; three returned after failing medical tests, while 19 remained behind. Zuma-Sambudla says she was shocked to learn they had allegedly been taken toward a conflict zone, prompting her to return to Russia to seek help from officials and the South African embassy.

She denies any involvement in unlawful activity, has handed over her devices and documents to investigators, and says she is fully cooperating with authorities.

Over the weekend, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that Zuma-Mncube has opened a criminal case against Zuma-Sambudla and two others for allegedly recruiting 17 South African men who are now believed to be trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to Zuma-Mncube’s affidavit, the men — including eight of her relatives — were lured to Russia under false pretences with promises of lucrative jobs, then handed over to a Russian mercenary group and deployed to a battlefield without their consent.

In a letter shared on X, she stressed that none of the men agreed to being sent into a war zone and argued that the incident violates anti-trafficking laws, foreign military assistance regulations, and common-law fraud.

Police national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said an enquiry docket has been opened, noting that specific charges will be established once a full investigation is completed. She confirmed the case is being investigated at a provincial level.

“Ms Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube has deposed an affidavit at the Sandton police station for police to investigate Ms Duduzile Zuma, Ms Siphokasi Xuma and Mr Blessing Khosa. This in relation to seventeen South African men who are allegedly trapped in the Ukraine/Russian War,” Mathe said, according to The Citizen.

“Ms Mncube claims the men were lured to Russia under false pretences and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in the Ukrainian war without their knowledge or consent.

“The SAPS confirms that an enquiry docket has been registered since the charges are still to be determined through a thorough investigation. The enquiry docket will be investigated at a Provincial level,” Mathe said.

The men, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal, sent distress calls to Pretoria earlier in November, seeking help to return home from the war-torn Donbas region.

Ukraine has denied that the men were fighting for its forces, while Russia has not commented. A Ukrainian ambassador suggested they may have been deceived into fighting for Russia.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a full investigation, and the government is working through diplomatic channels to repatriate the men.

South African law prohibits citizens from providing military assistance to foreign armies without government approval.

Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram

Picture: X/@Am_Blujay

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Betha Madhomu

Article written by