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

A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were tricked into serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to emerge recently after the South African government announced it was attempting to assist citizens stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

This claim rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted 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 war they did not sign up for, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year 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 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.

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

Political Connections

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a vocal supporter of her father, who holds significant sway nationally. Historical ties between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with countries often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. On social media, she has made statements showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to online posts during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

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

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, 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 recruiting for foreign militaries without state authorization is illegal.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the situation. Initially, the contingent numbered twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and families of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Shortly after, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, accusing her sibling and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a proper training course. “I would not knowingly expose my own family 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. A government spokesperson said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that a significant number of citizens from African countries are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”