🔗 Share this article ‘Utterly Wicked’: Anguish and Anger as Citizens Reportedly Deceived into Battling for Russian Forces A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry. “My health is truly suffering,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.” Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface last month after the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men. This claim rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying. The men are thought to remain trapped in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives far from home fear for their lives. A Fateful Introduction The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in Russia. A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” A Complex Backdrop 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 decades. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” Towards the month's end, the son called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been active in the war since its outset. Government Response and Ongoing Anguish In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that recruiting for external armed forces without state authorization is illegal. A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Shortly after, the formal allegation was lodged by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role. The other named recruiters could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to inquiries. A Wider Pattern Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Russian forces 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 faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”
A mother has had no contact with her son since late August. Their final conversation, he expressed fear that he was being dispatched to the frontlines of the ongoing conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Since that day, she has been gravely ill with worry. “My health is truly suffering,” she stated, exhaustion evident in her voice. “I suffer panic attacks, I’m in and out of hospital, palpitations. It's overwhelming. Constant headaches and dizziness. It is an immense struggle.” Her son was part of a group of seventeen South African and two Botswanan men who, according to legal filings, were deceptively recruited for fighting for Russia. The alleged scheme is linked to a family member of former South African president Jacob Zuma. A Startling Allegation Allegations about Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla's role began to surface last month after the national authorities announced it was attempting to assist nationals trapped in the war zone. Subsequently, in a bombshell intervention, a different family member, filed a police report claiming that Zuma-Sambudla and two others had deceptively recruited the men. This claim rippled through the nation, where the wider scandal has shone a light on the severe financial hardship facing a significant youth demographic. Statistics show a large portion of under-35s are unemployed and not studying. The men are thought to remain trapped in a war they did not sign up for, while their relatives far from home fear for their lives. A Fateful Introduction The mother, whose identity is protected, said she and her son were connected with Zuma-Sambudla through a relative when her son was still a child. She stated that an offer was presented in the middle of the year with what was presented as an lucrative prospect in Russia. A portion of the group were allegedly told they would be trained as security personnel for a political party led by Jacob Zuma. Others were given the impression they could enrol on a self-improvement course, upon completion they could study abroad and even obtain foreign nationality. Initial wariness was overcome by agreement. “I recall requesting for contracts for the program and it was handled with great urgency,” the mother said. “The message was: ‘They need to go, they need to go urgently.’” A Complex Backdrop 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 decades. The former president has been at the forefront in pushing for stronger alliances with nations often at in conflict with Western powers. She has also publicly expressed her support of Russia. Online, she has made statements aligning herself with the leadership in Moscow. Separately, she is facing legal proceedings on charges of serious offenses related to social media activity during previous riots. She denies those charges. The Journey to War The group reportedly met at a major international airport in early July before traveling to Moscow. Messages from private chat groups from July and August reportedly show the group's concerns. By mid-August, the men began questioning from their recruiters, stating they were separated. A communication explicitly stated: “We are with a military group, in Ukraine. We are not in Russia.” Towards the month's end, the son called his mother to say he was being pressured to sign a contract in a language he did not understand. A document linked to another member of the group seems to be a service agreement with a specific military unit that has been active in the war since its outset. Government Response and Ongoing Anguish In early November, the national leadership confirmed it had been contacted by the men and was working to bring them home. The government noted that recruiting for external armed forces without state authorization is illegal. A deep rivalry between current and former leaders adds a layer of complexity to the situation. Initially, the group included 20 South Africans, but a few were permitted to come back. A subsequent conversation between Zuma-Sambudla and families of the men allegedly provided little clarity. Shortly after, the formal allegation was lodged by another relative, claiming her half-sister and others of luring the men “under false pretences” and handing them to a Russian mercenary group. In response, Zuma-Sambudla submitted a statement asserting she had been deceived by an associate into believing it was a legitimate training course. “Under no circumstances would I knowingly expose anyone to harm,” she said in excerpts of her statement. She subsequently stepped down from her elected role. The other named recruiters could not be reached for a statement. An official representative said there was no new information on the mission to bring back the men. Diplomatic missions have not responded to inquiries. A Wider Pattern Reports suggest that hundreds of African nationals are serving with Russian forces 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 faced a judge on charges relating to involvement for Russia. Meanwhile, the mother continues to be consumed by fear and full of confusion and rage. “For someone to take a child … That constitutes sheer wickedness,” she said. “She kept assuring them that they would not see combat and she betrayed them like that. I mean, who does that?”