Brumelda Zuma Sworn In As South African MP After Half‑Sister Resigns

Brumelda Zuma, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has been sworn into parliament less than two weeks after her half‑sister, Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla, stepped down.

Brumelda joins parliament as a representative of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), the opposition party led by her father. She was sworn in on Wednesday alongside three other MK members, whom the party described as individuals bringing a wealth of experience and dedication. Brumelda said her focus will be on securing good public services for South Africans, citing her studies in public administration.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Duduzile Zuma‑Sambudla, who left parliament after allegations that she deceived seventeen South African men into travelling to Russia where they ended up fighting as mercenaries in Ukraine. Zuma‑Sambudla has denied the accusations.

Brumelda Zuma has not previously held a national public profile, unlike her half‑sister who served in the Pan-African Parliament. MK said Zuma‑Sambudla chose to resign in order to focus on efforts to assist South Africans trapped in Ukraine’s Donbas region. South Africa’s government earlier reported receiving distress calls from more than a dozen citizens aged between twenty and thirty-nine who had joined mercenary forces and were stuck in the conflict zone.

One of Zuma‑Sambudla’s most prominent accusers is another half‑sister, Nkosazana Zuma‑Mncube, who filed a criminal complaint alleging that the men were lured to Russia under false pretences and handed over to a Russian mercenary group without their knowledge or consent. She stated that eight of the affected men were relatives. Police have confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Under South African law, working as a mercenary or fighting for another army is illegal unless authorised by the government. Zuma‑Sambudla said in an affidavit that she believed the men were travelling for lawful training. She is also currently on trial for terrorism‑related charges linked to social media posts made during the 2021 unrest. She has denied all charges.

Jacob Zuma launched the MK party in 2023 after a major fallout with President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party finished third in South Africa’s most recent general election and became the official opposition after the second-biggest party joined Ramaphosa’s coalition government.

While political turbulence continues to shape the continent, the arc of progress is still being written. Africa’s story is young, its institutions are still growing, and each generation strengthens the path forward with resilience and determination.