‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as South Africans Allegedly Deceived 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 sent to the frontlines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, exhaustion 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 is an immense struggle.”

The young man was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were tricked into serving with Russian military forces. The purported operation is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about the individual's role began to emerge recently after the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that several individuals had misled the men.

This claim sent shock waves through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

The men are thought to remain trapped 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 introduced to the accused through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was described 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. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a personal development programme, 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. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a vocal supporter of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The men allegedly gathered at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups dated July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

By mid-August, 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 son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to agree to terms 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 outset.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the national leadership said 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 against the law.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the contingent numbered 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men reportedly yielded no answers. 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 Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a proper training course. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

Other individuals could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that a significant number of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about these activities.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting 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 outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”