A mother has not heard from her son since late August. The last time they spoke, he voiced concern that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the war between Russia and Ukraine. From that moment, she has been physically unwell with anxiety.
“My health is truly suffering,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I get anxiety attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It’s just a whole lot. Constant headaches and dizziness. 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 fighting for Russian military forces. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma.
Claims about the individual's involvement began to emerge recently following the national authorities said it was trying to help citizens trapped in the war zone. 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 rippled through South Africa, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the dire economic situation facing many of its young people. Statistics show a substantial percentage of young adults are unemployed and not studying.
These individuals are believed to be trapped in a war they did not sign up for, while their families thousands of miles away dread for their lives.
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 June with what was described as an lucrative prospect in Russia.
Some of the men were allegedly told they would be instructed to become bodyguards for a faction led by Jacob Zuma. The remainder were allegedly told they could join a personal development programme, upon completion they could study abroad and even secure foreign nationality.
Early hesitation eventually gave way to agreement. “I remember asking for written agreements for the school and it was just so rushed,” she said. “They insisted: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’”
The accused, is known as a fierce defender of her parent, who retains considerable political influence nationally. Longstanding relations between certain factions and Russia date back many years. The former president has been at the forefront in advocating for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers.
The accused has also frequently declared her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the government in Moscow.
Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on accusations of serious offenses related to social media activity during past unrest. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
The men reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before flying to Moscow. Communication records from online forums from July and August reportedly show the men's growing unease.
By mid-August, the men started demanding answers from their recruiters, stating they were being split up. One message clearly read: “We have been placed with a military group, in Ukraine. This is not Russia.”
Towards the month's end, the young man contacted his parent to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in Russian. An agreement linked to another member of the group appears to be a contract with a designated force that has been active in the hostilities since its beginning.
Recently, the office of the South African president confirmed it had received distress calls the men and was working to secure their return. The government noted that assisting external armed forces without state authorization is against the law.
A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Initially, the contingent included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to return home.
A mid-November call between the accused and relatives of the men reportedly yielded no answers. Shortly after, the police report was lodged by another family member, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group.
Reacting to this, Zuma-Sambudla filed her own affidavit asserting she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a legitimate program. “I would not knowingly expose my own family to harm,” she said in parts 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 efforts to repatriate the men. Foreign embassies have not responded to requests for comment.
Authorities have indicated that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Moscow's military in Ukraine, leading to appeals for nations to alert their populations about such recruitment.
Unrelated to this incident, several other South Africans among them a public figure recently appeared in court on charges relating to involvement for Russia.
Throughout this ordeal, Mary continues to be worried sick and bewildered and angry. “To think that someone could take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she lets them down like that. What kind of person does that?”
Milan is een ervaren opticien met een passie voor visuele technologie en klantgerichtheid.
