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

One parent has had no contact with her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with anxiety.

“I’m honestly really sick,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. 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 citizens of Botswana men who, as stated in multiple lawsuits, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russian military forces. The purported operation is linked to a family member of ex-president Jacob Zuma.

A Political Bombshell

Claims about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's involvement began to surface last month following the national authorities said it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that several individuals had misled the men.

This claim sent shock waves through the nation, 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.

The men are thought to remain caught in a conflict they did not sign up for, while their families 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 the accused through a relative 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 lucrative prospect in Russia.

Some of the men were allegedly told they would be instructed to become security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, after which they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality.

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

Political Connections

The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her father, who holds considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back many years. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at odds with Western powers.

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

Separately, she is facing legal proceedings 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 men allegedly gathered 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 recruiters, stating they were being split up. One message explicitly stated: “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. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a service agreement with a designated force that has been involved in the hostilities since its beginning.

Government Response and Ongoing Anguish

In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was attempting to bring them home. The government emphasized that recruiting for external armed forces without state authorization is against the law.

A deep rivalry between the two political figures adds a layer of complication to the case. At first, the contingent numbered twenty individuals, but three were allowed to come back.

A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men allegedly provided no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.

Reacting to this, the accused filed her own affidavit claiming she had been misled 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 resigned from her political position.

Other individuals were unavailable for a statement. An official representative said there was “no update” on efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to inquiries.

A Wider Pattern

Reports suggest that hundreds of citizens from African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to warn their citizens about these activities.

In a separate case, five more individuals among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia.

Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could take a child … I think that is outright evil,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. What kind of person does that?”