‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Fighting for Russian Forces

A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being sent to the battle lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with worry.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.”

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

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface recently following the South African government announced it was trying to help citizens trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are not in work or education.

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

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla through a relative years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented 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 given the impression they could join a personal development programme, after which they could study abroad and even obtain Russian citizenship.

Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the program and it was just so rushed,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’”

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between certain factions and Russia date back decades. Jacob Zuma 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 support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow.

In another matter, she is currently on trial on charges of serious offenses related to online posts during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

By mid-August, the men began questioning from their contacts, stating they were separated. One message 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 sign a contract in Russian. 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.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

Recently, the office of the South African president said it had been contacted by the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government noted that recruiting for foreign militaries without state authorization is against the law.

The political rift between the two political figures introduces an element of complication to the situation. At first, the contingent included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back.

A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Shortly after, the police report was filed by another family member, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, the accused filed her own affidavit asserting she had been misled by an associate into believing it was a legitimate program. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role.

Other individuals could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to requests for comment.

A Wider Pattern

Authorities have indicated that a significant number of citizens from African countries are serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

In a separate case, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”