The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday that it wants the South African Police Service (Saps) investigation into the recruiting and trafficking of South African men into the Russian war effort in Ukraine to include all implicated uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) structures and individuals, including party president Jacob Zuma and his daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla.

DA spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans Chris Hattingh pointed to recent media reporting which revealed that young South African men were allegedly charged R20 000 for supposed travel and training, only to be sent directly into the Russia-Ukraine war.

Last week, the DA laid criminal charges against Zuma-Sambudla, for her alleged role in the recruitment.

The charges included human trafficking, contraventions of South Africa’s anti-mercenary legislation and additional offences that the Saps is now investigating.

She resigned from Parliament amid the allegations.

Hattingh said, according to the recent media article, the invoices for payment were issued through individuals linked to the MKP.

“If true, this paid recruitment pipeline represents a serious criminal and national-security concern,” he said.

Hattingh explained that the report implicated Zuma and Zuma-Sambudla, in communications and logistics for the trips.

The DA said it would also ask the Parliament’s Ethics Committee to expedite its probe into Zuma-Sambudla’s involvement in the war recruitment claims.

“If a registered political party is involved in crime, it can be investigated, prosecuted, deregistered by the Independent Electoral Commission, and deprived of public funding.

“Leaders can be criminally charged, with assets frozen. A party found guilty of human trafficking or illegal recruitment can be dissolved. South Africa cannot allow a former President and his party to run an off-the-books war recruitment network,” said Hattingh.

Meanwhile, last week the DA said it would pursue an urgent joint committee meeting to determine what Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Defence Intelligence and the State Security Agency knew, and what actions they took.

“We will also escalate pressure on government to immediately begin the process of repatriating the 17 South Africans still trapped in an active Russian warzone. Above all, the DA will ensure that every individual responsible for the recruitment, deception and trafficking of these men is held fully accountable under South African law,” Hattingh said.