The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been implicated in the recruitment of young men from South Africa and Botswana to join Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, according to relatives of the recruits and WhatsApp correspondence reviewed by Bloomberg.
Men Travel to Russia Under Training Pretext
According to relatives of the recruits, approximately 20 men were approached by Duduzile Zuma and told they would participate in a bodyguard training programme for Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP).
The men reportedly travelled to Russia in July, signed military contracts in Russian, and were subsequently sent to frontline areas in Ukraine.
Photographs reviewed by Bloomberg show the group in Russia, first traveling together and later wearing camouflage alongside instructors. WhatsApp messages between Duduzile Zuma and some parents indicate that the recruits were assured they would not be sent into combat.
“The recruits thought they were signing documents for the bodyguard course,” several relatives said.
In one exchange, a recruit wrote: “As we speak now, we are packing and preparing to move to the war zone,” with Duduzile Zuma replying: “It’s not the frontline. They are just scaring you… you may just patrol or be put on cooking duties or gun cleaning,” adding she would retrieve them “personally” if required. Families report losing contact with the men in August.
Official Investigation Underway
Although South African law has prohibited citizens from serving as mercenaries or fighting for foreign governments since 1998, reports of its citizens being recruited to join Russia’s war effort have risen sharply this year.
Economic hardship and high unemployment have made young people across the continent increasingly vulnerable to offers of “training” or well-paid security jobs abroad.
Similar recruitment cases have emerged in Kenya, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and several other countries.
Prior to these disclosure, Business Insider Africa reported that the South African government had received distress calls from 17 citizens trapped in Ukraine after joining Russian forces. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a formal investigation. “President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered an investigation into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities,” the Presidency said.
Officials have confirmed that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure the safe return of those involved.
No Comment from Key Figures
Duduzile Zuma has yet to respond to requests for comment. Attempts to reach the MKP, the South African Presidency, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Russian Embassy, and Russia’s foreign ministry were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Jacob Zuma’s own legal challenges remain unresolved, with a recent court ruling declaring his medical parole unlawful and ordering him to return to prison to serve the remainder of his 15-month sentence.
At the same time, relatives and available evidence suggest that Duduzile Zuma has previously shared pro-Russian content on social media, including images from Russia and posts critical of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
She is also currently facing trial for allegedly inciting violence on social media during the 2021 unrest.
Zuma Family Appeals to Moscow
South African news outlets report that Jacob Zuma wrote to Russia’s defence minister requesting the removal of 18 South Africans from the combat zone, citing that they had been misled into signing infantry contracts in Pskov, near Estonia.
Broader African Context
The involvement of African nationals in Ukraine highlights the international dimension of the conflict. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, at least 1,436 individuals from 36 African countries are currently fighting alongside Russian forces.
This figure excludes Africans who were already residing in Russia prior to the war and subsequently volunteered or were recruited to join the conflict.
