‘Utterly Wicked’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Allegedly Deceived into Fighting for Russia

One parent has not heard from her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“My health is truly suffering,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russian military forces. The purported operation is connected with a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Allegations about the individual's role began to surface last month after the national authorities announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in the war zone. Then, in a dramatic development, a different family member, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had misled the men.

This claim rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are not in work or education.

These individuals are believed to be caught in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear 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 the middle of the year with what was described as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the program and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who retains considerable political influence 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 odds with Western powers.

The accused has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on accusations of serious offenses related to online posts 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 private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

In late August, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to sign a contract in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting 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 numbered twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the police report was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, the accused submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate 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.

Other individuals were unavailable for comment. A government spokesperson said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that a significant number of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”