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Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, a lawmaker for the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party and daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has resigned from parliament. Her decision comes in the wake of mounting allegations that she was linked to a scheme that deceptively recruited South Africans to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine.
Reports from various media outlets detailed how young South Africans were allegedly targeted through online advertisements for non-military jobs in Russia, such as au pairs, hospitality staff, and medical assistants. However, upon arrival, they were reportedly coerced or manipulated into joining Russian military forces engaged in the war against Ukraine. The South African government has expressed serious concern, with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirming it is investigating these reports. Under South African law, it is illegal for citizens to participate as mercenaries in foreign conflicts.
In a statement, Zuma-Sambudla vehemently denied the accusations, labeling them a coordinated "smear campaign" and "disinformation" aimed at tarnishing her reputation and that of the MK party. She stated that her resignation was a strategic move to protect the party and her father from these attacks. "I have taken the decision to resign from Parliament to save the MK Party and my father, President Zuma, from the modern-day political media persecution and blackmail," she wrote, according to coverage of her resignation statement.
Zuma-Sambudla has been a vocal supporter of Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, frequently using her social media platforms to promote a pro-Kremlin narrative. Her stance has often been at odds with South Africa's officially non-aligned position on the conflict. The controversy emerged just months after the MK party, with her father as its leader, secured a surprising 14.6% of the vote in national elections, becoming the third-largest party in parliament. The investigation by South African authorities into the broader issue of illicit recruitment had been ongoing for some time. The resignation highlights the potential for global conflicts to create complex domestic political challenges and the growing scrutiny of foreign influence campaigns within the country.
