‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Fury as South Africans Allegedly Deceived into Battling for Russian Forces

One parent has had no contact with her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the frontlines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been gravely ill 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, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to emerge last month following the South African government announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in Ukraine. Then, in a dramatic development, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

This claim rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

The men are believed to be 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 Zuma-Sambudla through a relative years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in June with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even secure Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back many years. The former president has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. On social media, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

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

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were being split up. A communication clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

In late August, the young man called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the office of the South African president confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the group numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home.

A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another family member, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled 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 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 the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about these activities.

In a separate case, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”