‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as Citizens Reportedly Tricked into Battling for Russia

A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern 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 worry.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.”

The young man was among a contingent of seventeen South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in legal filings, were tricked into fighting for Russia. The purported operation is connected with a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about the individual's involvement began to surface recently following the South African government announced it was trying to help nationals trapped in Ukraine. Then, in a dramatic development, a different family member, filed a police report alleging that several individuals had deceptively recruited the men.

This claim sent shock waves through South Africa, where the wider scandal has highlighted the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are believed to be caught in a war they never agreed to join, while their relatives far from home fear for their lives.

A Fateful Introduction

The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were introduced to the accused through a relative years ago. She stated that contact was made in the middle of the year with what was described as an lucrative prospect in the foreign country.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality.

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

A Complex Backdrop

The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Moscow date back decades. The former president has been at the forefront in advocating for closer relationships with countries often at odds with Western powers.

The accused has also frequently declared her support of 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 past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

From Airport to Battlefield

The group reportedly met at a major international airport in the summer before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups dated July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.

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

In late August, 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 service agreement with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without official permission is against the law.

A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complication to the case. Initially, the group numbered 20 South Africans, but three were allowed to return home.

A subsequent conversation between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was lodged by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit claiming she had been deceived by another recruiter into believing it was a legitimate training course. “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 political position.

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 did not reply to inquiries.

Broader Implications

Authorities have indicated that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”