Several South African men who recently returned from Russia have claimed they were misled with promises of security jobs but forced to fight in the Ukraine war, highlighting a troubling recruitment network targeting vulnerable job seekers.
One of the returnees, Sipho Dlamini, said the experience was traumatic from the moment they arrived in Russia.
“They made us burn everything we had — clothes, documents, even family photos,” the 32-year-old said after returning to Durban in South Africa.
Recruits say they were deceived
Many of the men said they travelled to Russia believing they would receive training as security personnel or VIP bodyguards.
Instead, they claim they were quickly pushed into combat roles in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The recruits were reportedly issued weapons and given only minimal training before being deployed to the front lines in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region.
“We were cannon fodder,” one returnee said, adding that several recruits had little knowledge of handling weapons before being sent into battle.
Allegations of recruitment network
The controversy has drawn attention to alleged recruitment efforts linked to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma.
She stepped down as a member of parliament in December after the allegations surfaced and a police investigation was launched.
Some recruits claim they were convinced to travel to Russia through WhatsApp groups and job offers promising lucrative employment opportunities.
According to family representatives, the recruits were allegedly paid about 80,000 rand initially before being deployed to the battlefield.
Reports of discrimination on front lines
Several returnees said African fighters were assigned some of the most dangerous duties in the conflict.
They reported witnessing deaths among fighters from multiple African countries including Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
Some also claimed they faced racial abuse and harsh treatment while deployed.
“They treated Africans worse,” one returnee said, describing the conditions on the front lines.
Governments move to bring citizens home
The South African government confirmed that 15 citizens have been repatriated in two batches after diplomatic engagement with Russia.
The request for assistance was reportedly made by Cyril Ramaphosa to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Authorities said investigations are now underway into possible violations of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which prohibits South Africans from participating in foreign armed conflicts without authorisation.
Fear and uncertainty remain
While the returnees expressed relief at finally reaching home, many now fear possible legal consequences or retaliation from those involved in recruitment.
Families say their primary concern is simply that their loved ones survived.
“We just wanted them back alive,” said one parent.
The incident has raised broader concerns about the recruitment of fighters from Africa into international conflicts and the growing human cost of the war.