🔗 Share this article ‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as South Africans Reportedly Deceived into Fighting 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. “I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” The young man was among a contingent of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is connected with a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about the individual's involvement began to emerge last month after the South African government announced it was attempting to assist nationals 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. This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are not in work or education. The men are believed to be trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives. The Initial Contact The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country. Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” Political Connections The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers. The accused has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is currently on trial on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges. From Airport to Battlefield The group allegedly gathered at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning. Official Actions and Family Despair In early November, the office of the South African president said it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government noted that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is against the law. The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, claiming her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her political position. The other named recruiters could not be reached for a statement. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to inquiries. A Wider Pattern Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment. In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could take a child … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who 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 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. “I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” The young man was among a contingent of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is connected with a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about the individual's involvement began to emerge last month after the South African government announced it was attempting to assist nationals 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. This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are not in work or education. The men are believed to be trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives. The Initial Contact The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country. Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” Political Connections The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers. The accused has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is currently on trial on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges. From Airport to Battlefield The group allegedly gathered at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning. Official Actions and Family Despair In early November, the office of the South African president said it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government noted that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is against the law. The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A subsequent conversation between the accused and families of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, claiming her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her political position. The other named recruiters could not be reached for a statement. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to inquiries. A Wider Pattern Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment. In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could take a child … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”