Zuma's family demands answers over recruits sent to Ukraine

Former president Jacob Zuma’s relatives are hoping that he will call a family meeting so that his daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, can explain how their loved ones ended up in the traumatic war in Ukraine, when they were recruited for security training in Russia. 

There were 17 men who were sent to Russia so that they could come back to be employed as security guards.  

One of those who are disappointed and angry with Zuma-Sambudla is her aunt, Phumla MaNyathi-Zuma, whose sons and grandsons were also forced to fight in Ukraine. 

Four of the men arrived at the OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, and were reported to have given statements to the police.

MaNyathi-Zuma is the MKP president’s sister-in-law, who was married to his late brother. 

Speaking on her behalf in the wake of the arrival of the four men, her sister Nombuyiselo Mukansi said the return of the four men brought hope that all of them would soon be back. 

She said Zuma-Sambudla should explain how the men ended up in the war zone instead of being trained and come back home with security skills.

Zuma-Sambudla has not responded to questions sent to her via WhatsApp this morning. She also did not answer her phone. 

Mukansi, who said she was part of the campaign to bring back the men to their families, said she and MaNyathi-Zuma were hoping and praying that the Zuma family would call the meeting so that Zuma-Sambudla could open up about her role in the saga. 

“We hope and pray they will arrange such a meeting, but we don’t know.

“But our priority is for all these children to come back home alive, as we could see the evidence that if we don’t make any move, we won’t see them again.”

She said she was hopeful that if the men come back they would tell the truth about how they ended up in Ukraine. 

“Our focus and all our energy must make sure that the boys come back because when they are here they will be able to tell the story on their own,” she said. 

When asked if Zuma-Sambudla had assisted in bringing the man back, Mukansi said, “No, not at all.”

This was even though the MKP announced in a media briefing held in Durban in December, which she and her father attended, that she had resigned from all party activities, including being a Member of Parliament, so that she could fully assist in bringing the men back to their families. 

However, Mukansi said in as far as she knew, Zuma-Sambudla never lifted a finger in assisting with the repatriation. 

“All I heard was that she is resigning, but we told ourselves that we are not interested in that story at that stage,” she said.

Zuma’s first-born daughter, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, had, on November 22, 2025, opened criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla, Siphokazi Xuma, and Blessing Khoza at the Sandton police station for allegedly contravening the country’s Prevention and Combating of Trafficking of Persons Act, Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, and Common Law Act of Fraud. 

Zuma-Mncube said in a statement released after opening the charges that the men were lured to Russia under pretenses and handed to a Russian mercenary group to fight in Ukraine without their knowledge or consent. 

When asked if she thought Zuma-Sambudla should be arrested and prosecuted for her role in the matter, Mukansi said: “At the end of the day, the law must take its course.” 

“We don’t have anyone who is an advocate or attorney to help us, and all that we are relying on is the services of the government to make sure that the law takes its course and make sure that this does not happen to other families again in the name of job creation.

“When they left, it was about job opportunities,” Mukansi said.

She also addressed concerns that the men, most of whom she stated had no previous experience with firearms or violent activities before travelling to Russia, might return to join violent criminal activities. These concerns stem from the fact that they will be returning to unemployment but now possess experience in handling firearms, including heavy-duty machine guns.

“Anything is possible, but we don’t know because we have not met them to hear what is in their minds.”

She said she is aware that money allegedly exchanged hands in preparation for the men’s departure to Russia. 

“They told us that on that side, the military commanders would say ‘you guys are now our property, therefore you will do as you are told because we paid for you’, but I cannot personally confirm this as we don’t have details, and we hope that the police investigation will be able to reveal that,” she said.

Jabulani Khumalo, a man who claimed that Zuma stole the MKP from him and who also claimed to have worked with Mukansi in bringing the men back, said he was relying on Zuma-Mncube’s case to get Zuma-Sambudla and the two others to be prosecuted. 

It was reported that Zuma-Mncube’s case was handed to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks. 

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the matter was still under investigation.

“We have five suspects (Nonkululeko Mantula, Thulani Mazibuko,  Xolani Ntuli, Siphamandla Tshabalala, and Sfiso Mabena) in court and the investigation is still ongoing,” she said.

When specifically asked about Zuma-Sambudla, Mogale said: “If you have persons who are being charged, you cannot name them.”

Mogale said the matter regarding the four men who were in Russia was under investigation. 

“Upon their arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on February 18, 2026, the four alleged mercenaries were ushered by law enforcement, where articles were seized for further investigation.

“Currently, the investigation is directed towards the contravention of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, and all four who are not arrested have made their way to their home province, KwaZulu-Natal. 

“The accused implicated in the enticing of the returnees are out on bail, and their investigation into their involvement is continuing,” said Mogale.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za