‘Outright Evil’: Heartbreak and Fury as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Battling for Russia
A mother has not heard from her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry.
“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”
Her son was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, 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 involvement began to emerge recently after the South African government announced it was trying to help citizens trapped in the war zone. 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 rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying.
These individuals are thought to remain caught in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.
A Fateful Introduction
Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla via a family connection years ago. She stated that contact was made in June with what was described as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.
Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could enrol on a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even secure Russian citizenship.
Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the school and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’”
Political Connections
Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a vocal supporter of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Moscow date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers.
She has also publicly expressed her backing for Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.
In another matter, she is currently on trial on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges.
The Journey to War
The group allegedly gathered at a major international airport in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.
By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”
Towards the month's end, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to agree to terms in Russian. 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 beginning.
Official Actions and Family Despair
Recently, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for foreign militaries without official permission is illegal.
The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complexity to the case. Initially, the contingent included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to return home.
A subsequent conversation between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another family member, claiming her half-sister and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.
Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a proper program. “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 could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to requests for comment.
A Wider Pattern
Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.
In a separate case, five more individuals among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.
Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “For someone to exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”