🔗 Share this article ‘Utterly Wicked’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Tricked into Battling for Russia One parent has not heard from her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with worry. “My health is truly suffering,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were tricked into fighting for Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is connected with a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about the individual's role began to surface recently after the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men. This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s 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 far from home fear for their lives. The Initial Contact Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was described as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country. A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship. Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’” A Complex Backdrop The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for stronger alliances with countries often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. On social media, she has made statements showing solidarity to the government 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 men reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group seems to be a service agreement 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 received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without official permission is illegal. The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. At first, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a proper program. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role. The other named recruiters could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to inquiries. Broader Implications Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment. In a separate case, five more individuals among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”
One parent has not heard from her son since the end of August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been gravely ill with worry. “My health is truly suffering,” she stated, fatigue evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, my hospital visits are frequent, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It’s not easy for me.” Her son was part of a group of 17 South African and two citizens of Botswana men who, according to legal filings, were tricked into fighting for Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is connected with a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Claims about the individual's role began to surface recently after the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens trapped in Ukraine. Subsequently, in a dramatic development, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint alleging that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had misled the men. This claim sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has highlighted the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Reports indicate a substantial percentage of under-35s 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 far from home fear for their lives. The Initial Contact Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla via a family connection when her son was still a child. She stated that contact was made in June with what was described as an exciting opportunity in the foreign country. A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as bodyguards for a faction associated with Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even secure Russian citizenship. Early hesitation was overcome by agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, it is an immediate necessity.’” A Complex Backdrop The accused, has long been a fierce defender of her parent, who retains significant sway nationally. Historical ties between South African political structures and Russia date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in advocating for stronger alliances with countries often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. On social media, she has made statements showing solidarity to the government 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 men reportedly met at a travel hub in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from private chat groups from July and August apparently indicate the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” In late August, the son contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to agree to terms in Russian. An agreement associated with another member of the group seems to be a service agreement 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 received distress calls the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without official permission is illegal. The political rift between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. At first, the group included twenty individuals, but three were allowed to return home. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and relatives of the men reportedly yielded little clarity. Soon thereafter, the police report was filed by another relative, accusing her half-sister and others of luring the men “based on deception” and handing them to a foreign fighting force. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement claiming she had been misled by another recruiter into believing it was a proper program. “I would not knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role. The other named recruiters could not be reached for comment. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions did not reply to inquiries. Broader Implications Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment. In a separate case, five more individuals among them a public figure recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be worried sick and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to exploit a young person … That constitutes outright evil,” she said. “Promises were made that they weren’t going to war and she lets them down like that. I mean, who does that?”