‘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 expressed fear 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.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, 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 legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Allegations about the individual's role began to surface last month following the national authorities said it was trying to help nationals stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that several individuals had misled the men.

This claim rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

The men are believed to be caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives far from home dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, 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 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 bodyguards for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to online posts during past unrest. She denies those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

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

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

In late August, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that recruiting for foreign militaries without official permission is against the law.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the case. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the formal allegation was lodged by another family member, claiming her sibling 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 deceived by an associate into believing it was a proper training course. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

Other individuals were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”