Mahumapelo pleased police probing matter of 17 SA citizens lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine

The chairperson of the portfolio committee on international relations and cooperation, Supra Mahumapelo, says he's pleased that the police will formally investigate the matter of 17 South Africans stranded in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Mahumapelo said the committee had noted the developments around the 17 South Africans stranded in Ukraine after allegedly being lured to the war-torn country by members of the MK Party.

Former president Jacob Zuma's daughter and MK Party member, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, is alleged to have recruited the men who are reportedly forced to fight against their will in Ukraine.

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Police on Sunday confirmed that they were investigating claims that Zuma-Sambudla and other members of the MK Party tricked 17 men into fightingfor Russia in Ukraine.

Zuma's other daughter, Nkosazana Bongamini Zuma-Mncube, also accused her stepsister Zuma-Sambudla of sending the men to Russia before they ended up on the frontlines in the ongoing conflict.

Mahumapelo said the committee was pleased that the South African Police Services (SAPS) would now formally investigate the matter.

In a statement on Monday, Mahumapelo said that the committee welcomed the developments and the committee would seek further clarification from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

"The SAPS has a justifiable reason to officially investigate the matter."

He said the police investigation should help establish how the South African men were "recruited, processed and platooned in the Russian army".

Mahumapelo said that any underground or parallel structure that works against the government or DIRCO should be exposed.