‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as South Africans Allegedly Deceived into Fighting for Russian Forces

One parent has had no contact with her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was part of a group of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about the individual's involvement began to surface last month after the South African government announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, lodged a formal complaint claiming that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

The men are thought to remain trapped in a war 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 introduced to the accused through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as bodyguards for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back many years. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on charges of serious offenses related to online posts during past unrest. She denies those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

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

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to sign a contract in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a contract with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

In response, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”