‘Pure Malevolence’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Reportedly Deceived into Battling 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 sent to the battle lines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“My health is truly suffering,” 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. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man 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 Russia. The purported operation is connected with a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge last month after the South African government said it was trying to help citizens trapped in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

The men are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

The Initial Contact

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was described as an lucrative prospect in Russia.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be instructed to become security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Moscow date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has made statements showing solidarity to the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group allegedly gathered at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

In the following weeks, 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. This is not Russia.”

In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to sign a contract in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government noted that recruiting for foreign militaries without official permission is against the law.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the case. Initially, the contingent included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her sibling and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, the accused submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a proper training course. “Under no circumstances would I 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 a statement. An official representative said there was “no update” on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions 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, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about such recruitment.

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

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”