Trapped in Donbas: South Africans Reveal Deceptive Recruitment into Russian Forces
Several South African men allege they were tricked into joining Russian forces in Ukraine under false pretenses, facing harsh conditions and grave danger near the front lines.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters.
Dubandlela, a father from Durban, described how his 20-year-old son and at least 16 other South Africans were recruited under the promise of elite VIP bodyguard training in Russia, only to be sent to fight in eastern Ukraine.
The men report enduring severe hardships, including digging trenches in freezing temperatures, scarcity of food and water, and sleeping in cramped, unsafe shelters while under constant threat from combat operations.
South African authorities, including President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office, are actively working to secure the safe return of these men. Investigations suggest the scam involved deceptive contracts written in Russian and may have implicated political figures, though no official admissions of guilt have been made.
The case is being treated as a crime against the state, given that providing unauthorized military assistance abroad is illegal for South Africans.
Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, is alleged to have played a key role in recruiting young men from South Africa under the guise of security training for her father’s party. Once in Russia, the recruits discovered that the contracts they signed in Russian effectively enlisted them in the Russian military, leading to deployment near the front lines in Ukraine.
The situation sparked outrage in South Africa, where participation in foreign conflicts without authorization is a criminal offense. The scandal gained additional attention due to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s previous involvement in pro-Russian campaigns on social media and her controversial public profile.
On November 29, South African authorities detained four men suspected of being recruited to join the Russian army. The arrests took place at O.R. Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg, and the suspects were accused of violating domestic laws prohibiting citizens from supporting foreign armed forces or engaging in military operations abroad. Authorities continue to investigate additional individuals believed to be involved.
The South African case is part of a wider pattern of foreign recruitment by Russia. Earlier, two young citizens of Botswana, aged 19 and 20, were reportedly deceived into joining Russia’s war effort. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted these incidents as part of a systematic policy targeting foreign nationals through false promises of employment or training programs.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that at least 1,436 individuals from 36 African countries are currently involved on Russia’s side, with many being sent directly to high-casualty “meat assaults” and treated as expendable.