One of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma’s daughters has filed criminal charges against her sister, accusing her of recruiting men from South Africa and Botswana to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube claimed MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla and two others tricked 17 men into fighting for Russian mercenaries.
The men were told they were traveling to Russia to be trained as bodyguards for Mkhonto Wesizwe (MK), the political party led by Jacob Zuma, Zuma-Mncube’s statement said.
Police said they were investigating the matter, but Zuma-Sambudla, 43, did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
The South African government previously said it had received distress calls from 17 of its citizens who had joined mercenaries in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The men, aged between 20 and 39, were lured into joining the mercenaries under the pretext of lucrative contracts, the government said.
South Africa’s unemployment rate is over 30%. Analysts say young people have much higher unemployment rates, making them particularly vulnerable to recruitment.
Zuma-Mcube said she had a “moral obligation” to file a police complaint against her sister.
Earlier this week, international financial outlet Bloomberg reported similar allegations against Zuma-Sambudla.
These charges add to Zuma-Sambudla’s legal troubles. She is currently being tried in court on terrorism-related charges.
The congressman was charged for comments he made on social media during deadly protests in South Africa four years ago after his father was arrested.
In July 2021, a week of anarchy, including looting and arson, continued in several parts of the country, leaving at least 300 people dead.
Zuma-Sambudla has been accused of fomenting the unrest, but has said the accusations against her are politically motivated.
Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court after he was removed from office for refusing to take part in an investigation into corruption allegations while he was president.
Afterwards, he founded the MK Party and placed third in last year’s election.
