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

One parent 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 ongoing conflict between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, 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.”

The young man was part of a group of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to emerge recently after the South African government said it was attempting to assist nationals stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that several individuals had misled the men.

The accusation sent shock waves through the nation, where the broader situation has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

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

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a personal development programme, after which they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the program and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a vocal supporter of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between South African political structures and Moscow date back many years. The former president has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at odds with Western powers.

The accused has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. Online, she has shared posts aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on charges of serious offenses related to online posts during previous riots. She denies those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The men allegedly gathered at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

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 son called his mother to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been involved in the war since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting foreign militaries without state authorization is against the law.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the case. Initially, the group numbered twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to return home.

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

In response, 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 parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about these activities.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to 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?”