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

One parent has not heard from her son since late 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 physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, 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 Botswanan men who, as stated in multiple lawsuits, 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

Claims about the individual's involvement began to emerge last month following the South African government announced it was trying to help citizens trapped in the war zone. 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.

The accusation sent shock waves through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are thought to remain trapped in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to 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 Russia.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be instructed to become security personnel for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

Political Connections

The accused, is known as a vocal supporter of her father, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between certain factions and Russia date back many years. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. One message clearly read: “We are 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 agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the war 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 working to bring them home. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without official permission is against the law.

The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complication to the situation. Initially, the contingent included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the formal allegation was lodged by another family member, accusing her half-sister and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, the accused submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I 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 could not be reached for a statement. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that a significant number of African nationals are serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”