‘Outright Evil’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Allegedly Deceived into Fighting for Russian Forces

A mother has had no contact with her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It’s not easy for me.”

Her son was among a contingent of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.

A Startling Allegation

Claims about the individual's involvement began to emerge last month after the South African government said it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint claiming that several individuals had misled the men.

The accusation sent shock waves through South Africa, where the broader situation has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of young adults are not in work or education.

The men are believed to be caught in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to the accused via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in June with what was described as an lucrative prospect in Russia.

A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be trained as security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for closer relationships with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on accusations of serious offenses related to social media activity during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums from July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

By mid-August, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. A communication clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears 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 confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without state authorization is illegal.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders introduces an element of complication to the case. Initially, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

Other individuals were unavailable for comment. A government spokesperson said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals including a media personality recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”