Hawks probe allegations that Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla allegedly sent 17 SA men to war
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is currently on trial in the Durban High Court for her alleged instigation of the deadly 2021 unrest. She is allegedly linked to a recruitment plot that lured KZN men to fight in the Russia/Ukraine war.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Indepedent Media
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the Hawks are currently investigating a case opened against Duduzile Zuma Sambudla, following serious allegations related to the recruitment of 17 South African men who are purportedly trapped in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to The Mercury, the case was initiated by Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma Mncube, who claims that these individuals were lured into fighting in Ukraine under false pretences.
According to reports, the men, most of whom hail from KwaZulu-Natal, find themselves in dire circumstances and are eagerly seeking a way to return home.
Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma Mncube, the eldest daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, approached the Sandton police station, urging authorities to examine the actions of three individuals, including her sister, Duduzile, whom she alleges is responsible for the plight of these men.
National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that following an initial inquiry, the case has been escalated to the Crimes Against the State (CATS) component, part of the Hawks, for further investigation.
“I can confirm that Zuma-Mncube had presented herself to the Sandton police station, where she urged the state to investigate three individuals whom she accused of luring 17 South African men to Russia under false pretences,” Mathe stated.
“An enquiry docket has been registered, and the Hawks will proceed with their investigation.”
The allegations made by Zuma Mncube are serious, stating that these individuals have potentially violated several laws, including the Preventing and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act and the Regulations of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
She described the emotional toll this situation has taken on families, revealing that several of the trapped men are her own relatives.
While efforts to reach out to Zuma Mncube for additional comments were met with a request to redirect inquiries to her sister, Thuthu Zuma, it became clear that the family dynamic is fraught.
Thuthu confirmed Nkosazana’s role as the eldest daughter of Jacob Zuma and confirmed the distressing situation of those trapped in Ukraine, stating, “They are desperate to come home and scared for their lives. Their families are in contact with them.”
Zuma Mncube has gone public with her plea, urging the South African government to expedite diplomatic efforts to secure the safe return of the distressed South Africans.
“I call on all South Africans to be vigilant and not fall prey to individuals offering seemingly too good to be true opportunities abroad, especially those that involve travel in conflict zones,” she remarked in her media statement.
The MK Party, with which Duduzile is affiliated as a member of Parliament, did not respond to queries regarding the allegations by the time of publication, leaving a cloud of uncertainty around the family and their respective roles in this unfolding drama.
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