Cape Town – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube has opened a criminal case against her sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, and two others for allegedly recruiting 17 South African men who are now 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 the battlefield without their consent.
In a letter shared on X, Zuma-Mncube revealed that eight of the 17 men are her relatives and stressed that none of them agreed to being sent into a war zone.
She argued this violates anti-trafficking laws, foreign military assistance regulations, and common-law fraud.
The SAPS can confirm that Ms Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma – Mncube has deposed an affidavit at the Sandton police station for police to investigate Ms Duduzile Zuma. This in relation to seventeen South African men who are allegedly trapped in the Ukraine/Russian War. Ms Mncube claims… pic.twitter.com/bTIZEVpxT3
— Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (@CrimeWatch_RSA) November 23, 2025
Police national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said an enquiry docket has been opened, noting that the specific charges will be established once a full investigation is completed.
She said that the case will be 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,” said Mathe.
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.
*TO ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS*
*THURSDAY 06 November 2025*
*SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT RECEIVES*
*DISTRESS CALL FROM CITIZENS TRAPPED IN RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT*The government of South Africa has received distress calls for assistance to return home from seventeen (17) South…
— African (@ali_naka) November 6, 2025
Ukraine has denied they were fighting for its forces, while Russia has not commented.
A Ukrainian ambassador suggested the men may have been deceived into fighting for Russia.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a full investigation, and the government is working via diplomatic channels to repatriate the men.
South African law prohibits citizens from providing military assistance to foreign armies without government approval.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
