‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak 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 voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”

Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russian military forces. The purported operation is connected with a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

The accusation rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

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

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with the accused via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was described as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a personal development programme, after which they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

The accused has also publicly expressed her backing for Russia. On social media, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges.

The Journey to War

The group allegedly gathered at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. A communication clearly read: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

In late August, the young man called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in Russian. A document linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been involved in the hostilities since its outset.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government noted that recruiting for foreign militaries without state authorization is illegal.

The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the contingent included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

In response, the accused filed her own affidavit asserting she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I 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 comment. A government spokesperson said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about such recruitment.

In a separate case, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to exploit a young person … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”