South Africa: Men Lured to Fight in Ukraine to Return Home | Zuma’s Daughter Investigated
JOHANNESBURG – A growing number of South African men allegedly enticed into fighting for Russia in Ukraine are returning home, with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office confirming the expected arrival of 11 more nationals on Tuesday. This follows the return of four men last week, bringing the total number of repatriated South Africans to 15. Two remain in Russia, one receiving medical treatment in Moscow and the other undergoing final processing for travel.
The South African government secured the return of these men through diplomatic channels, following a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to Putin for responding positively to his request for assistance during a phone call, according to a statement released by his office.
The men, aged between 20 and 39, were reportedly deceived into traveling to Russia under the false pretense of receiving security training. They subsequently found themselves deployed to the front lines in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, fighting alongside Russian forces. The circumstances surrounding their recruitment are currently under investigation, with South African authorities probing potential mercenary activities.
At least three individuals in South Africa are being investigated for their alleged involvement in recruiting these men, including Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma. Zuma-Sambudla has denied any wrongdoing but recently resigned from her position as a lawmaker in South Africa’s parliament following the emergence of the claims.
The South African government first received “distress calls” from the men in December, detailing their desperate situation in the war-torn Donbas region. The repatriated men have been questioned by police upon their return, according to Thulani Mahlangu, a spokesperson for the families, but have since been released pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
“They were questioned for quite some time when they arrived here in South Africa because there is still an investigation about how they ended up in Russia. But they were released after talking to the police,” Mahlangu told the Associated Press.
This case highlights a broader trend of African nationals being recruited to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Kyiv estimates that at least 1,436 foreign nationals from 36 African countries have been recruited by Russia, though the actual number is believed to be higher. Intelligence reports from Kenya indicate that over 1,000 Kenyan citizens may have been similarly recruited.
The situation in Kenya is particularly acute, with dozens of families appealing to their government to secure the release of loved ones stranded in Russia. Some Kenyans are reportedly being forced to fight on the front lines, while others are being held as prisoners of war in Ukraine. The reports of recruitment echo concerns raised by Kenya’s government, which has demanded answers from Russia regarding the enlistment of its citizens.
South African law prohibits its citizens from participating in foreign armed conflicts without official government authorization. The ongoing investigation aims to determine the extent of the recruitment network and hold those responsible accountable. The government’s statement emphasized that the safe return of its citizens was a priority, facilitated through close collaboration with Russian authorities.
The incident raises questions about the vulnerability of young men facing economic hardship and the tactics employed by recruitment networks operating across the African continent. The promise of lucrative employment contracts appears to have been a key lure for the South African men, mirroring reports from other African countries where similar recruitment schemes have been uncovered.
The South African government has not yet released details regarding the support and reintegration services that will be provided to the returning men, many of whom are likely to require psychological and social assistance after their experiences in the conflict zone. The investigation into the recruitment practices is expected to shed light on the methods used to target vulnerable individuals and the extent of the network involved.
The case also underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the Russia-Ukraine war, with implications for South Africa’s foreign policy and its relationship with both Russia and Ukraine. While South Africa has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, the involvement of its citizens in the fighting raises concerns about the potential for further entanglement in the ongoing hostilities.