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

One parent has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were tricked into serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Allegations about the individual's role began to emerge last month after the national authorities announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a large portion of under-35s are not in work or education.

These individuals 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.

The Initial Contact

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to the accused via a family connection years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in Russia.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could join a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in advocating for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to online posts during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

The men allegedly gathered at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. A document associated with another member of the group appears to be a contract with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its outset.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is against the law.

The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the situation. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been deceived 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 resigned from her elected role.

Other individuals could not be reached for comment. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of African nationals are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”