🔗 Share this article ‘Utterly Wicked’: Heartbreak and Fury as Citizens Allegedly Tricked into Battling for Russian Forces A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.” The young man was among a contingent of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Political Bombshell Allegations about the individual's role began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens stranded in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men. The accusation sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are not in work or education. The men are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they did not sign up for, while their families far from home dread for their lives. The Initial Contact Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla 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 the foreign country. A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’” A Complex Backdrop Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting foreign militaries without state authorization is against the law. A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the group included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back. A mid-November call between the accused and families of the men allegedly provided no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. In response, Zuma-Sambudla 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role. Other individuals could not be reached for comment. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment. Broader Implications Reports suggest that a significant number of African nationals are serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about these activities. In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”
A mother has not heard from her son since the end of August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the battle lines of the war between Russia and its neighbor. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety. “I’m honestly really sick,” she said, fatigue evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, heart palpitations. It's overwhelming. Headaches, I’m dizzy all the time. It is an immense struggle.” The young man was among a contingent of 17 South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for serving with Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a daughter of ex-president Jacob Zuma. A Political Bombshell Allegations about the individual's role began to surface recently following the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens stranded in Ukraine. Then, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, lodged a formal complaint claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men. The accusation sent shock waves through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Reports indicate a large portion of young adults are not in work or education. The men are thought to remain trapped in a conflict they did not sign up for, while their families far from home dread for their lives. The Initial Contact Mary, whose name has been changed, said she and her son were introduced to Zuma-Sambudla 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 the foreign country. A portion of the group were reportedly promised they would be instructed to become security personnel for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. Others were allegedly told they could join a self-improvement course, upon completion they could attend a Russian university and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for written agreements for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They must leave, it is an immediate necessity.’” A Complex Backdrop Zuma-Sambudla, is known as a fierce defender of her father, who holds significant sway nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Moscow date back decades. The former president has been a leading figure in pushing for stronger alliances with countries often at odds with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of terrorism and inciting violence related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a travel hub in the summer before flying to Moscow. Messages from online forums dated July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their contacts, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We have been placed with a paramilitary organization, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.” In late August, the young man called his mother to say he was being forced to agree to terms in a language he did not understand. An agreement associated with another member of the group appears to be a contract with a specific military unit that has been involved in the war since its outset. Official Actions and Family Despair Recently, the national leadership said it had been contacted by the men and was working to secure their return. The government emphasized that assisting foreign militaries without state authorization is against the law. A deep rivalry between the two political figures introduces an element of complexity to the situation. At first, the group included twenty individuals, but a few were permitted to come back. A mid-November call between the accused and families of the men allegedly provided no answers. Soon thereafter, the formal allegation was filed by another family member, accusing her sibling and others of enticing the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. In response, Zuma-Sambudla 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 excerpts of her statement. She subsequently resigned from her elected role. Other individuals could not be reached for comment. A government spokesperson said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Foreign embassies did not reply to requests for comment. Broader Implications Reports suggest that a significant number of African nationals are serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, prompting calls for nations to alert their populations about these activities. In a separate case, several other South Africans including a media personality recently faced a judge on similar allegations relating to recruitment and fighting for Russia. Meanwhile, Mary continues to be consumed by fear and bewildered and angry. “For someone to take a child … I think that is sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they weren’t going to war and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”