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

One parent has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man was part of a group of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface recently after the South African government announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are not in work or education.

The men are thought to remain caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could join a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between certain factions and Russia date back many years. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

The accused has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. On social media, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

The men allegedly gathered at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

By mid-August, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. One message clearly read: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. A document linked to another member of the group appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. Initially, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to return home.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

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

The other named recruiters were unavailable for comment. 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 Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”