‘Pure Malevolence’: Anguish and Fury as South Africans Reportedly Deceived into Fighting for Russian Forces

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

“I’m honestly really sick,” 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 among a contingent of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in multiple lawsuits, were tricked into fighting for Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge last month after the South African government said it was trying to help citizens stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, lodged a formal complaint alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

This claim rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a large portion of under-35s are not in work or education.

The men are believed to be trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their families far from home fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with 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 Russia.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could join a self-improvement course, after which they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality.

Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in advocating for closer relationships with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

The accused has also publicly expressed her backing for Russia. On social media, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The men reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, 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. We are not in Russia.”

In late August, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a contract with a designated force that has been active in the war since its beginning.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

In early November, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit asserting she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a proper program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role.

Other individuals could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of African nationals are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals among them a public figure recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”