‘Outright Evil’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Reportedly Deceived into Battling for Russia

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 dispatched to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were tricked into serving with Russia. The purported operation is connected with a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Allegations about the individual's role began to surface recently after the national authorities said it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a substantial percentage 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 far from home dread for their lives.

The Initial Contact

Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with 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 lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be instructed to become security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even secure foreign nationality.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. On social media, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

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

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a major international airport in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son called his mother to say he was being forced to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the case. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to return home.

A mid-November call between the accused and families of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

Other individuals were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply 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 alert their populations about these activities.

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

Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”