‘Pure Malevolence’: Heartbreak and Fury as South Africans Reportedly Tricked into Fighting for Russian Forces

A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the ongoing conflict between Russia and its neighbor. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, 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 seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, as stated in legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russian military forces. The purported operation is connected with a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about the individual's role began to emerge recently following the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens stranded in Ukraine. Then, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had misled the men.

The accusation sent shock waves through the nation, where the broader situation has highlighted the dire economic situation facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

The men are thought to remain caught in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives far from home dread for their lives.

The Initial Contact

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was presented as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

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 given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, they need to go urgently.’”

Political Connections

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back many years. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

The accused has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. On social media, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

Separately, she is currently on trial on accusations of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges.

The Journey to War

The men reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before traveling to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August apparently indicate the men's growing unease.

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

Towards the month's end, the son called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in Russian. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its beginning.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the office of the South African president confirmed it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without state authorization is against the law.

The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the case. Initially, the contingent included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another family member, accusing her half-sister and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

The other named recruiters could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was “no update” on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment.

A Wider Pattern

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

In a separate case, five more individuals including a media personality recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to 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. What kind of person does that?”