Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigns as South African MP over Russia mercenary recruitment scandal

Her resignation comes as a South African allegedly recruited to fight in Ukraine recounts the horrors of war to the BBC.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationWatch DocumentariesTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListTo the Ends of the Earth EarthWatch DocumentariesNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveEx-president's daughter resigns over allegations she duped South Africans to fight for Russia1 day agoShareSaveNomsa Maseko,BBC AfricaandKhanyisile Ngcobo,JohannesburgShareSaveGallo Images/Getty ImagesThe daughter of South Africa's ex-President Jacob Zuma denies tricking people into joining the Russia-Ukraine warThe daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma has resigned as an MP following allegations that she tricked 17 men to fight for Russia as mercenaries in Ukraine.

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who became a member of parliament for the main opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) last year, has said in an affidavit that she thought the men were going to Russia for "lawful" training.

MK says it was her decision to resign as she wants to focus her efforts on ensuring the return of those trapped in Ukraine's war-torn Donbas region.

The brother of one of the men, who has been sending desperate voices notes about his situation, has told the BBC the family wants accountability and his safe return.

"Things you see in the movies, we're seeing it live," the 40-year-old said in one of the messages shared with the BBC by his family about the horrors they were being subjected to in Ukraine.