‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russia

One parent has not heard from her son since late August. Their final conversation, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been physically unwell with anxiety.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were tricked into serving with Russia. The purported operation 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 surface recently after the South African government announced it was trying to help nationals stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report alleging 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 dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are not in work or education.

The men are thought to remain caught in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

The Initial Contact

Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla 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 presented as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality.

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

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 Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers.

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

In another matter, she is currently on trial on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. 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 agree to terms in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for foreign militaries without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the situation. At first, the group included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another family member, claiming her sibling and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a legitimate program. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

Other individuals could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that a significant number of African nationals are fighting alongside Moscow's military 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 faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to exploit a young person … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”