‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Fury as South Africans Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces

One parent has not heard from her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russian military forces. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface recently after the national authorities said it was attempting to assist citizens trapped in the war zone. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, lodged a formal complaint claiming that several individuals had misled the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are not in work or education.

The men are believed to be trapped in a conflict they did not sign up for, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

The Initial Contact

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.

Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

In another matter, she is currently on trial on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

By mid-August, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. An agreement associated with another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been active in the war since its outset.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was working to secure their return. The government noted that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the group included 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another family member, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role.

Other individuals could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to requests for comment.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”