‘Pure Malevolence’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Battling for Russia

One parent has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. 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 tricked into serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface recently after the national authorities said it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim sent shock waves through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are not in work or education.

The men are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in Russia.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Russia date back many years. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for closer relationships with nations often at odds with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements showing solidarity to 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 has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The men reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We are with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. An agreement associated with another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the war since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for foreign militaries without official permission is illegal.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing 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 asserting she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a proper program. “I would not knowingly expose my own family 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 comment. 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

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about such recruitment.

In a separate case, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”