‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Anger as South Africans Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces

A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the battle lines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were tricked into serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is connected with a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Allegations about the individual's involvement began to emerge last month after the South African government said it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

The men are believed to be trapped in a war they never agreed to join, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in June with what was described as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

Political Connections

The accused, has long been a vocal supporter of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Moscow date back decades. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

In another matter, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges.

The Journey to War

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a contract with a designated force that has been involved in the war since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the office of the South African president said it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government emphasized that assisting external armed forces without state authorization is against the law.

The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the contingent included 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to return home.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, the accused submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for comment. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

Reports suggest that hundreds of citizens from African countries are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about these activities.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”