‘Pure Malevolence’: Anguish and Fury as Citizens Allegedly Deceived into Battling for Russian Forces

A mother has not heard from her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. 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 serving with Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface last month after the national authorities announced it was trying to help citizens stranded in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, another of Zuma’s daughters, filed a police report alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men.

The accusation rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of under-35s are unemployed and not studying.

These individuals are thought to remain caught in a conflict they never agreed to join, while their relatives thousands of miles away fear for their lives.

The Initial Contact

The mother, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla via a family connection years ago. She stated that an offer was presented in June with what was described as an exciting opportunity in Russia.

A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a political party associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain Russian citizenship.

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

A Complex Backdrop

Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. Jacob Zuma has been a leading figure in pushing for closer relationships with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.

She has also frequently declared her backing for Russia. On social media, she has shared posts showing solidarity to the leadership in Moscow.

In another matter, she is currently on trial on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

The Journey to War

The men reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns.

In the following weeks, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were being split up. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed 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 Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been active in the hostilities since its beginning.

Official Actions and Family Despair

Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was attempting to secure their return. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without official permission is illegal.

The political rift between current and former leaders introduces an element of complexity to the case. At first, the group numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home.

A mid-November call between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was lodged by another family member, claiming her half-sister and others of enticing the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force.

In response, the accused submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a proper program. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role.

Other individuals were unavailable for a statement. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on efforts to repatriate the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to requests for comment.

Broader Implications

Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to warn their citizens about such recruitment.

Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on charges relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, the mother continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”