Key points:
• Brumelda Zuma takes MK seat in parliament
• Sister quit after Russia recruitment allegations
• Police probe alleged mercenary scheme
BRUMELDA Zuma, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has been sworn into parliament less than two weeks after her half-sister stepped down amid serious allegations linking her to the recruitment of South Africans for Russia. The development deepens the influence of the Zuma family in the country’s legislature and strengthens the presence of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the opposition movement launched by the former president.
Brumelda took her oath on Wednesday, joining three newly appointed MK lawmakers. The party described the new MPs as figures who ‘bring a wealth of experience and dedication’ to the National Assembly. The appointment was first reported by the BBC, which noted that the move signals Jacob Zuma’s intention to keep members of his family in strategic political roles.
Focus on public services
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony, Brumelda said her priority would be improving access to quality services. ‘I will focus on ensuring that South Africans have good public services, because that is what I studied,’ she said, referring to her degree in public administration, confirmed by MK.
Unlike her half-sister, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who previously represented South Africa at the Pan-African Parliament, Brumelda has not held a national position before. Her arrival comes at a turbulent moment for the family and the party.
Sister resigned over Russia allegations
Zuma-Sambudla resigned from parliament following accusations that she duped 17 South African men into travelling to Russia to serve as mercenaries in Ukraine. She has denied the allegations. According to the BBC, the claims came to light after the South African government disclosed that it had received distress messages from young men trapped in the war-torn Donbas region.
The men, aged between 20 and 39, believed they were travelling for training. South African law prohibits citizens from serving as mercenaries or joining a foreign army without government approval.
MK said Zuma-Sambudla stepped down voluntarily to devote her time to helping secure the return of the stranded men. The party has not commented further on the allegations while the police continue their investigation.
One of the most vocal accusers is another half-sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Mncube, who has filed a criminal complaint against Zuma-Sambudla and two other individuals. She alleges that the men were recruited ‘under false pretences’ and handed over to a Russian mercenary organisation ‘without their knowledge or consent’. Eight of the affected men are reportedly her relatives.
Legal challenges continue
Zuma-Sambudla is also facing trial on separate terrorism-related charges tied to social media posts published during deadly protests in 2021. She denies wrongdoing and says she believed the men travelling to Russia were participating in lawful training programmes.
MK consolidates opposition role
The MK party was established in 2023 after a dramatic fallout between Jacob Zuma and current president Cyril Ramaphosa. In last year’s election, MK came third nationally and became the official opposition after the second-largest party joined a government coalition led by Ramaphosa.
The addition of Brumelda Zuma underscores MK’s emphasis on family networks and loyalty to its founder. It also highlights the growing influence of the former president’s inner circle in South Africa’s political arena at a time of widening ideological divides within the opposition.
