'I'M A VICTIM'- 'Mastermind' Zuma claims she was also taken for a ride in Russia 'mercenary' scheme

DUDUZILE Sambudla-Zuma, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, claims she was geflous in scheme to lure South Africans into the Russia-Ukraine War.

Sambudla-Zuma has hit back at accusations from her eie sisters that she recruited 22 South Africans as mercenaries for the Russia-Ukraine war.

But Sambudla-Zuma insists that she had no intention of facilitating, recruiting, or encouraging participation in combat or unlawful activities in an affidavit submitted to police, which the Daily News has seen.

Her clarification comes after her eldest sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, opened a criminal case against her over the weekend at the Sandton Police Station.

Zuma-Mncube also pressed charges against Siphokazi Xuma and Blessing Khoza, whom she claimed worked in cahoots with Sambudla-Zuma. 

However, Sambudla-Zuma claimed she was also a victim in this matter, as she was lured by a contact known to her as “Khoza.”

Sambudla-Zuma said Khoza claimed he could facilitate access to a lawful non-combat paramilitary training programme in Russia, and was explicit and insistent that the programme was legitimate and open to civilians.

Sambudla-Zuma, who is currently on trial allegedly using social media to incite terrorism and public violence, says she enlisted for the programme and travelled to Russia for training that lasted a month, during which time she did not engage in any combat and was not exposed to any form of combat.

“Based on my own experience, I believed that the programme was lawful and safe. But I too was manipulated and used to create a false impression of legitimacy.”

While she was in training, Sambudla-Zuma learned that the programme could accommodate more participants.

On her recommendation, a group of 22 individuals, including members of her family and relatives of close friends, arrived in Russia for the same programme.

Sambudla-Zuma has since brought various charges against Khoza, including fraud, misrepresentation, trafficking in persons for purposes of exploitation, and the unlawful movement of South African citizens into or toward an active conflict zone.

She assured that she would fully cooperate with the SAPS and any other authority.