PRETORIA – South African authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation into explosive allegations that the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, Duduzile Zuma, was involved in the recruitment of young South African and Batswana men who are now reportedly fighting on the frontline for Russian forces in Ukraine. The investigation comes after relatives of the recruits presented evidence, including WhatsApp messages, reviewed by Bloomberg, suggesting the men were misled into signing military contracts under the pretense of a security training programme linked to the former President’s newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). This potential breach of South Africa’s laws against foreign mercenary activities has escalated into a diplomatic crisis, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to order an urgent official inquiry and diplomatic efforts to secure the safe return of the affected citizens.
According to reports, the programme was allegedly presented as a security training opportunity with political ties, rather than any form of military involvement abroad. The recruits reportedly travelled to Russia in July, believing they were participating in a legitimate non-combat course. However, once in Russia, the situation changed dramatically.
According to relatives, the men were handed documents written in Russian, documents they could not read and instructed to sign them as part of the supposed training programme. It later emerged that the papers were military contracts, after which the young men were deployed to frontline areas in the Ukraine conflict. Bloomberg reported having seen photographs of the recruits together in Russia, as well as later images showing them dressed in camouflage alongside military instructors.
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WhatsApp conversations also reviewed by the publication show exchanges between Duduzile Zuma and some of the parents of the recruits. In these messages, Zuma is seen assuring families that the young men would not be placed in combat. Putin warns of ‘new level of escalation’ if US supplies…Oct 6, 202525,936 Putin warns of ‘new level of escalation’ if US supplies… Ukraine says it killed Russian agents who assassinated SBU…Jul 13, 202520,389
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