One of the daughters of Jacob Zuma, South Africa's former president, has filed a criminal complaint against her sister, accusing her of recruiting men from South Africa and Botswana to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube alleged that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who serves as an MP, and two others tricked 17 men into fighting for Russian mercenaries. The men were told they were travelling to Russia to train as bodyguards for Jacob Zuma's political party Mkhonto Wesizwe (MK), Zuma-Mncube's statement says.
The police are investigating, while Zuma-Sambudla, aged 43, has not responded to the BBC's request for comment. South Africa's government previously stated it had received distress calls from 17 citizens who had joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The men, aged from 20 to 39, were lured to join the mercenary forces under the pretext of lucrative contracts, as South Africa faces an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, making its youth particularly vulnerable. Zuma-Mncube expressed her moral obligation to take action against her sister.
Further complicating matters, Zuma-Sambudla is currently facing a trial over terrorism-related charges, implicated in contributing to unrest during protests in South Africa following her father's arrest. The former president was jailed for contempt of court linked to corruption inquiries during his tenure, forming the MK party afterward. As legal troubles mount for the Zuma sisters, the dynamics of familial conflict also reflect broader societal issues in South Africa.
The police are investigating, while Zuma-Sambudla, aged 43, has not responded to the BBC's request for comment. South Africa's government previously stated it had received distress calls from 17 citizens who had joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The men, aged from 20 to 39, were lured to join the mercenary forces under the pretext of lucrative contracts, as South Africa faces an unemployment rate exceeding 30%, making its youth particularly vulnerable. Zuma-Mncube expressed her moral obligation to take action against her sister.
Further complicating matters, Zuma-Sambudla is currently facing a trial over terrorism-related charges, implicated in contributing to unrest during protests in South Africa following her father's arrest. The former president was jailed for contempt of court linked to corruption inquiries during his tenure, forming the MK party afterward. As legal troubles mount for the Zuma sisters, the dynamics of familial conflict also reflect broader societal issues in South Africa.
