🔗 Share this article ‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Anger as South Africans Reportedly Tricked into Battling for Russia A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the frontlines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russian military forces. The purported operation is connected with a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface last month following the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men. The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying. The men are thought to remain caught in a war 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 Zuma-Sambudla 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. A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality. Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’” A Complex Backdrop Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges. From Airport to Battlefield The men allegedly gathered at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. One message explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” Towards the month's end, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being forced to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. A document associated with another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair In early November, the national leadership said it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government noted that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is against the law. A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the group numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role. Other individuals were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to requests for comment. 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 these activities. Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … 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?”
A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the frontlines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russian military forces. The purported operation is connected with a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface last month following the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men. The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying. The men are thought to remain caught in a war 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 Zuma-Sambudla 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. A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality. Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’” A Complex Backdrop Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges. From Airport to Battlefield The men allegedly gathered at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. One message explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” Towards the month's end, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being forced to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. A document associated with another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair In early November, the national leadership said it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government noted that assisting foreign militaries without official permission is against the law. A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. At first, the group numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role. Other individuals were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to requests for comment. 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 these activities. Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … 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?”