‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Fighting for Russia

A mother has not heard from her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.”

Her son was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were tricked into fighting for Russia. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about the individual's involvement began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

The accusation 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 large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

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

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, 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 contact was made in the middle of the year with what was described as an lucrative prospect in Russia.

Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the program and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back many years. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

The accused has also frequently declared her support of Russia. On social media, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence 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 major international airport in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. One message clearly read: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son 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 appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the war since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government noted that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is against the law.

The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a legitimate 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.

Other individuals were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals among them a public figure recently appeared in court on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”