‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Fury as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Fighting for Russia
A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.
“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”
The young man was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is linked to a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma.
A Political Bombshell
Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge recently after the South African government announced it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in the war zone. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that several individuals had misled the men.
This claim sent shock waves through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying.
These individuals are believed to be trapped in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives far from home dread for their lives.
A Fateful Introduction
Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in June 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 associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.
Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”
A Complex Backdrop
Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.
The accused has also frequently declared her support of Russia. On social media, she has made statements 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 has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
From Airport to Battlefield
The group reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Messages from online forums 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. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”
In late August, the son called his mother to say he was being forced to agree to terms in Russian. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its outset.
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 state authorization is illegal.
The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the situation. At first, the contingent included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.
A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.
In response, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a proper training course. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.
Other individuals were unavailable 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 hundreds of citizens from African countries are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about these activities.
In a separate case, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges 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 … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”
