🔗 Share this article ‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Anger as South Africans Allegedly Deceived into Fighting for Russian Forces 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 its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge recently after the national authorities said it was attempting to assist citizens trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, 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. This claim rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying. The men are believed to be caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their families far from home fear for their lives. A Fateful Introduction Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to 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 faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” Political Connections Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia 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 frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease. By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication clearly read: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair Recently, the national leadership said 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 current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the situation. Initially, the group included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was lodged by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. Reacting to this, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her political position. The other named recruiters could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment. Broader Implications Reports suggest that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about these activities. Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans including a media personality recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”
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 its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge recently after the national authorities said it was attempting to assist citizens trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, 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. This claim rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying. The men are believed to be caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their families far from home fear for their lives. A Fateful Introduction Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to 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 faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” Political Connections Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia 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 frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease. By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication clearly read: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair Recently, the national leadership said 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 current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the situation. Initially, the group included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was lodged by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. Reacting to this, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her political position. The other named recruiters could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment. Broader Implications Reports suggest that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about these activities. Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans including a media personality recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”