News24 | Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigns from MK Party amid Russian war recruitment scandal

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has resigned as an MP.

• Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from Parliament and the MK Party on Friday.
• This follows allegations that 18 young men, who expected bodyguard training, were sent to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• The MK Party says her resignation was voluntary and says it is engaging with affected families of the stranded men.

MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has resigned from Parliament and the party.

Party chairperson Nathi Nhleko announced this at a press briefing on Friday.

He said Zuma-Sambudla would not be involved in any public engagements.

The briefing was held after continued reporting from News24 that 18 men who believed they were being sent for bodyguard training through the party, were instead subjected to military training and deployed to the front line of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The men, some as young as 19, believed they were heading to Russia for prestigious bodyguard training when they departed from OR Tambo International Airport on 8 July. Instead, they found themselves thrust into the hell of war – operating cannons, sleeping in forest bunkers, and dodging drone attacks just 10 kilometres from active combat zones.

Zuma-Sambudla – known as “Auntie Dudu” to some of them – promised to endure the same hardships but fled Russia the moment the men were deployed to Ukraine.

On Friday, the MK Party (MKP) vehemently denied any involvement in the scandal.

“The MK Party was never involved in the matter of these South Africans going to Ukraine. Factually, the MK Party was never involved, and in the affidavit that Comrade Dudu made with police, she nowhere claims that the MK Party was involved,” said Magasela Mzobe, the head of the party’s presidency.

Mzobe said the resignation was voluntary and tendered on Friday morning.

According to party officials, Zuma-Sambudla provided a full report on the Russia-Ukraine matter during meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, where she also submitted her police affidavit.

“She voluntarily resigned to focus on supporting the affected families. The affidavit is a public document – it is better to familiarise yourself with it. This matter is now subject to an ongoing investigation. As much as we would like to speak about it, we cannot because we must respect the authorities,” Mzobe said, repeatedly stressing the party’s non-involvement.

WhatsApp messages revealed that Zuma-Sambudla, as the admin of WhatsApp groups, shared jokes and attempted to calm growing panic as desperate men pleaded for help.

Eight members of Jacob Zuma’s family are among the stranded fighters. Additionally, a 19-year-old from Botswana and men from Ghana were recruited, with the teenager vanishing without a trace since 28 August, after leaving a haunting farewell note.

In September, MKP leader, Zuma, wrote to Russia’s defence minister, describing the men as untrained volunteers and pleading for their removal from combat zones.

Party chairperson, Nhleko, said: “Our next step is to engage with the families and explain our position as a party and support them in their efforts for the safe return of their loved ones.”

“We call on everyone to treat this matter with the sensitivity it deserves.”