‘Utterly Wicked’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces
One parent has not heard from her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, 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 worry.
“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.”
The young man was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.
A Startling Allegation
Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface recently following the South African government announced it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.
The accusation sent shock waves through South Africa, where the broader situation has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are not in work or education.
The men are thought to remain caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives far from home dread for their lives.
The Initial Contact
Mary, whose identity is protected, 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 June with what was described as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.
A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain Russian citizenship.
Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”
A Complex Backdrop
Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers.
She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. On social media, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.
In another matter, she is currently on trial on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during past unrest. She denies those charges.
The Journey to War
The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Communication records from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.
By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We are with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”
Towards the month's end, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in Russian. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the hostilities since its beginning.
Official Actions and Family Despair
In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government emphasized 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 contingent numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home.
A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another family member, accusing her half-sister and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.
Reacting to this, the accused submitted a statement asserting she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role.
The other named recruiters were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to requests for comment.
Broader Implications
Authorities have indicated that a significant number of African nationals are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.
Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans including a media personality recently appeared in court on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.
Meanwhile, 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. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”