‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as South Africans Reportedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces

A mother has not heard from her son since late August. Their final conversation, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with worry.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”

Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Allegations about the individual's involvement began to emerge recently following the South African government announced it was attempting to assist citizens trapped in Ukraine. Then, 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 the nation, 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 not in work or education.

These individuals are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a vocal supporter of her father, who retains significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers.

The accused has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

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

The Journey to War

The men allegedly gathered at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records 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 separated. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man 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 specific military unit that has been active in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the office of the South African president confirmed it had been contacted by 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 current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. At first, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to return home.

A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Shortly after, the formal allegation was filed by another family member, claiming her half-sister and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

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

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about these activities.

In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”