‘Utterly Wicked’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces

A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

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

Her son was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The purported operation is linked to a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about the individual's involvement began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was attempting to assist citizens stranded in the war zone. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had misled the men.

The accusation rippled through South Africa, where the broader situation has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are thought to remain caught in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives far from home fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

Mary, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with the accused via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was described as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country.

Some of the men were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even secure foreign nationality.

Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the school and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been at the forefront in advocating for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers.

She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. On social media, she has shared posts aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow.

In another matter, 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.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from online forums from July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication clearly read: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.”

Towards the month's end, the young man called his mother to say he was being pressured 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 designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its outset.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the office of the South African president said it had been contacted by the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government noted that assisting foreign militaries without state authorization is against the law.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication 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 relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, claiming her sibling and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, the accused submitted a statement claiming she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate program. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

The other named recruiters were unavailable for a statement. A government spokesperson said there was “no update” on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Moscow's military in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about these activities.

Unrelated to this incident, five more individuals among them a public figure recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be worried sick 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. I mean, who does that?”