‘Outright Evil’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Allegedly Tricked into Fighting for Russian Forces

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

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

Her son was among a contingent of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, were tricked into serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about the individual's role began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was attempting to assist citizens stranded in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are believed to be caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in June with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in Russia.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could join a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

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

The accused has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges.

The Journey to War

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed 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 agree to terms in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, 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 state authorization is against the law.

The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the group included 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, the accused filed her own affidavit asserting she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a proper program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was no new information 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, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about these activities.

In a separate case, five more individuals including a media personality recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could take a child … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”