‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Fury as Citizens Allegedly Deceived into Fighting for Russia

A mother 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 war between the Russian Federation and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry.

“My health is truly suffering,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. 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 serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is connected with a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface last month following the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist citizens stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s are not in work or education.

These individuals are thought to remain caught in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away dread for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla via a family connection years ago. 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 allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were given the impression they could enrol on a personal development programme, after which they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. Jacob Zuma 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 backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Communication records from online forums from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We are with a paramilitary organization, 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. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, 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 against the law.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. Initially, the contingent numbered twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another family member, claiming her sibling and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

In response, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her political position.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about these activities.

In a separate case, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “To think that someone could exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”