‘Pure Malevolence’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russia

One parent has had no contact with her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”

Her son was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Allegations about the individual's involvement began to surface last month following the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint claiming that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation rippled through the nation, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are believed to be caught in a war they never agreed to join, while their families thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could join a personal development programme, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality.

Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

The accused, has long been a vocal supporter of her father, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Moscow date back decades. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her backing for Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on accusations of serious offenses related to social media activity during past unrest. She denies those charges.

The Journey to War

The men reportedly met at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were separated. One message explicitly stated: “We are with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

In late August, the son called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in Russian. A document associated with another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the war since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complexity to the case. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a proper training course. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to requests for comment.

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 warn their citizens about such recruitment.

In a separate case, five more individuals among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to exploit a young person … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”