South African Men Trapped Fighting in Ukraine, Recruitment scandal Deepens
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – A growing number of South African men are reportedly trapped on the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war, with at least two confirmed fatalities, sparking a diplomatic crisis and a domestic political scandal. The South African government has condemned the recruitment of its citizens by individuals linked to foreign military entities, following distress calls from 17 men aged 20 to 39 currently stranded in the Donbas region.
According to Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for the South African president, the government “strongly condemns the exploitation of young, vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities.”
Defence analyst Darren Olivier notes this isn’t an isolated incident. “We have seen some evidence of an increasing number of african citizens being recruited to go and fight in the Russian army – some through false pretenses, but some knowing what they’re getting into.”
The situation has become entangled with a family feud within one of South Africa’s most prominent political dynasties. Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube and Duduzile Sambudla-Zuma, daughters of former President Jacob Zuma – now leader of the opposition party uMkhonto weSizwe – have publicly accused each other of involvement in the recruitment process. Nkosazana accused Duduzile of deceiving the men, while Duduzile claimed she to was misled, believing the men were being offered bodyguard training.
Last week, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resigned from her position as a Member of Parliament representing her father’s party. Nkosinathi Nhleko,the party’s chairman,announced her “full cooperation with the ongoing investigations by relevant authorities.”
Families of the recruited men report being offered considerable sums of money. Olivier explains the recruitment operates through a network of brokers incentivized by bonuses for each recruit, making individuals in developing nations especially vulnerable.
Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, urged the South Africans fighting for Russia to surrender, stating, “I just want to tell African nationals, it’s not a war. Even if there is some money, it won’t make anyone proud.”
The Russian embassy in South Africa has not responded to requests for comment. While many African nations maintain historically neutral stances regarding the conflict, governments are now issuing warnings to their citizens about potential recruitment scams. The situation highlights the risk of being drawn into a foreign war with potentially fatal consequences.
