Zuma Daughter Accused of Recruiting Men to Fight in Ukraine War
A daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been accused by her sister of tricking 17 men from the country into fighting for Russia in the war-torn Ukraine. The alleged recruits were allegedly misled with false promises of paramilitary training and lucrative employment contracts, only to find themselves on the frontlines of the conflict without their knowledge or consent.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, an MP representing her father's party, has filed charges against two others, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, claiming she was duped into recruiting men for what she thought was a legitimate training program. The allegations have sparked an investigation by the South African police service, with 13 charges pending.
The case raises concerns about people trafficking, providing assistance to foreign militaries without government authorisation, and fraud. It also highlights the plight of foreign fighters caught up in the conflict, many of whom are drawn in by false promises of employment or adventure.
Russia has been accused of relying on coercion and deception to recruit foreign fighters from countries such as Africa, India, Nepal, Syria, and Cuba. The Ukrainian military has released a video of a captured Kenyan fighter who claimed he was deceived into fighting for Russia.
Meanwhile, thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been sent by their government to fight for Russia, with hundreds thought to have died. Ukraine has also recruited 2,000 contract soldiers from Colombia in recent months.
The South African government has acknowledged the recruitment of 17 men from the country and is working to bring them home after receiving "distress calls" for assistance. The investigation into the case is ongoing, but it remains unclear whether Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla will face charges or be cleared of any wrongdoing.
A daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been accused by her sister of tricking 17 men from the country into fighting for Russia in the war-torn Ukraine. The alleged recruits were allegedly misled with false promises of paramilitary training and lucrative employment contracts, only to find themselves on the frontlines of the conflict without their knowledge or consent.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, an MP representing her father's party, has filed charges against two others, Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, claiming she was duped into recruiting men for what she thought was a legitimate training program. The allegations have sparked an investigation by the South African police service, with 13 charges pending.
The case raises concerns about people trafficking, providing assistance to foreign militaries without government authorisation, and fraud. It also highlights the plight of foreign fighters caught up in the conflict, many of whom are drawn in by false promises of employment or adventure.
Russia has been accused of relying on coercion and deception to recruit foreign fighters from countries such as Africa, India, Nepal, Syria, and Cuba. The Ukrainian military has released a video of a captured Kenyan fighter who claimed he was deceived into fighting for Russia.
Meanwhile, thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been sent by their government to fight for Russia, with hundreds thought to have died. Ukraine has also recruited 2,000 contract soldiers from Colombia in recent months.
The South African government has acknowledged the recruitment of 17 men from the country and is working to bring them home after receiving "distress calls" for assistance. The investigation into the case is ongoing, but it remains unclear whether Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla will face charges or be cleared of any wrongdoing.