Police Inquiry into Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla Handed to Hawks as Allegations Over SA Men in Ukraine War Deepen
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that an inquiry docket has been formally opened at the Sandton Police Station to investigate allegations levelled against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma. The matter, which has now been escalated to the Hawks, centres on accusations linked to South African men allegedly drawn into the Ukraine–Russia war under dubious circumstances.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe revealed that the docket has been transferred to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State (CATS) division. She stressed that investigators were dealing with a matter far more complex than ordinary cases typically brought before station-level detectives. According to Mathe, the nature of the allegations requires specialised handling, given the cross-border concerns and the absence so far of direct accounts from the alleged victims.
The complaint against Zuma-Sambudla did not originate from state authorities, but from within the Zuma family itself. Her sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube, lodged a criminal case against her, as well as against Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza. The case stems from troubling claims involving seventeen South African men who were reportedly entangled in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
According to Zuma-Mncube, the men were allegedly enticed to Russia under false pretences. She claimed they believed they were being recruited for employment opportunities, only to find themselves delivered to a Russian mercenary group and forced into the Ukraine war without their consent. Zuma-Mncube stated that the men had not been aware they were being drawn into a conflict zone, and that they had effectively been trafficked into a war situation without their knowledge.
The SAPS, however, has not yet been able to interview the men allegedly affected. Mathe confirmed this, noting that investigators were working to establish contact with them to verify the claims and determine the circumstances in which they travelled to Russia.
Mathe also signalled that the assignment of the docket to the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State unit highlights the seriousness with which law enforcement views the allegations. The CATS component typically handles sensitive or high-level matters, particularly those involving national security, potential violations of international law, or concerns relating to human trafficking and mercenary activity.
The allegations involving Zuma-Sambudla have already sparked significant public interest, partly because of her prominence and political associations. She has often been outspoken on social media on geopolitical matters, including issues relating to Russia. However, at this stage she has not responded publicly to the specific accusations contained in the inquiry docket.
The issue has also drawn the attention of government’s international relations cluster. Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola, speaking broadly on the matter, said the law must be allowed to take its course. Lamola did not comment on the specific individuals named in the case, but his remarks underscored the seriousness with which government views any situation involving South African citizens being placed at risk outside the country’s borders.
The allegations lodged by Zuma-Mncube have also raised broader questions about the vulnerability of South African job seekers to international scams or recruitment schemes that mask high-risk or illegal activities. Over the past several years, there have been scattered reports of South Africans being lured overseas under the promise of employment, only to become victims of trafficking networks. Whether the current case fits within that pattern remains to be seen, but investigators appear to be preparing for a lengthy and intricate process.
Complicating matters further is the geopolitical sensitivity surrounding the Ukraine–Russia conflict. South Africa’s diplomatic posture has been a subject of intense scrutiny internationally, and any suggestion that South African nationals might have been drawn into the conflict, willingly or not, places law enforcement and diplomatic officials in a delicate position. The Hawks’ involvement suggests that authorities are taking no chances and want the full extent of the allegations examined thoroughly.
While the inquiry docket represents only the first step of what may become an extended legal and investigative process, it marks a significant moment in a case that intertwines family conflict, international allegations, and questions of criminal liability. For now, SAPS investigators continue to work to locate and speak to the seventeen men at the centre of the claims. Until their accounts can be obtained, much of the inquiry remains dependent on statements already made and the ability of the Hawks to gather corroborative evidence across borders.
For now, the status of the men who allegedly travelled to Russia remains unclear, and SAPS has made no announcement regarding their return or safety. Until investigators can speak directly with them, the case remains suspended between serious allegations and the challenge of verifying them across international lines. However, the opening of the inquiry and its transfer to the Hawks signal that law enforcement views the matter as significant and worthy of a full investigation.
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