South Africans Lured to Ukraine Frontline Face Costly Road Home
Johannesburg – The South African government is embroiled in a delicate situation as it attempts to repatriate 17 young citizens allegedly lured to Russia under false pretences and thrust into the conflict in Ukraine. News24 has learned that their return is being hampered by demands for money from military contractors working for the Russian army.
According to well-placed government sources, these contractors are insisting on being reimbursed for funds they claim to have paid to the MK Party (MKP) and, in some cases, directly to the families of the young men, in exchange for their deployment to the frontlines.
This demand presents a significant dilemma for the South African government, as explained by an impeccable official source. While Russia is reportedly willing to release the South Africans, the contractors' financial demands are proving to be a major obstacle.
The source confirmed that all 17 men are alive, although one has sustained severe injuries. The government considers the entire group to be at risk due to their proximity to the fighting in Ukraine, making their safe return a matter of urgent priority.
However, the insider emphasised that the state cannot pay what amounts to a ransom for their release. "The entire process was unlawful from the start, and the government had no role in it. A criminal investigation is ongoing. So for the state to pay for their return would pose ethical questions," the source stated, adding that the men were effectively "sold into combat".
News24 understands that the young men were initially enticed with promises of bodyguard training for former president Jacob Zuma, only to find themselves trapped in a war zone.
The government has reportedly contacted senior figures within the MKP, including Zuma himself, requesting that they refund the contractors. However, the situation is further complicated by allegations that some of the money was allegedly distributed to the families of the young men.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's office declined to comment specifically on the alleged payments to families. However, his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated: "Government remains concerned about the safety, well-being and security of these South Africans who are caught up in the Russia-Ukraine conflict."
Magwenya added that law enforcement agencies are continuing their investigations, "including investigations into the alleged involvement of the MKP as an organisation and individual members."
Several of the men have previously communicated that they were recruited by individuals linked to the MKP, including Zuma's daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. Some claim they were met by her and other MKP members upon arrival in Russia.
Zuma-Sambudla has attempted to shift the blame, while the MKP leadership has consistently denied any involvement.
MKP MP and spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela dismissed the notion of repaying any money as "nonsensical". He stated that he was unaware of any request to the party to refund the contractors, adding that Zuma would have informed him if he had been approached by the state.
"This is the first I hear of it. Why would they come to MK? The party was not involved in recruiting the young men," Ndhlela asserted. He further implicated Blessing Khoza as the primary recruiter, stating that Zuma-Sambudla had asserted in an affidavit to the police that Khoza had deceived her.
The Hawks have confirmed that Zuma-Sambudla has filed a fraud case against one of the individuals implicated in the recruitment. This case is being investigated alongside a complaint filed against Zuma-Sambudla by her half-sister, Nkosazana Bonganini Zuma-Mncube. Zuma-Mncube alleged that eight of the men are members of her family and accused her sibling of contravening the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, as well as the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, described the allegations that the MKP received money from the Russian government for the recruitment as serious and warranting investigation by law enforcement.
Phiri told News24 that efforts are underway to understand how the men were taken to Russia. "You will recall that these people are in a combat zone, and there has been an effort to try to establish their whereabouts and how much knowledge the Russian government has on the issue. That has been the nature of engagements," he explained.
"We are continuing to engage and try to find a way to, at least, ensure that these South Africans, through diplomatic channels, may be brought back," Phiri added.
News24 contacted several families of the men, who denied receiving any money from the MKP or any other source in exchange for their sons' deployment.
One of the men stranded in Ukraine echoed these denials, stating: "What money? This is news. Our families did not receive any money. If money had been sent to our families, they would have told us a long time ago. By now, they would have spoken out and told them to return that money so that we can come back home."
He added that he would confirm with the other members of the group, but he was confident that their response would be the same. However, he acknowledged the possibility that money may have been channelled elsewhere.
"We don’t know if money was sent to the MK Party with the understanding that it would be passed on to the families. If that did happen and the party received the money, then it would be very sad if that money was kept and not given to the families," he said.
He insisted that if money must be returned to the Russian government to secure their release, it must be done "as soon as possible".
A sister of one of the men corroborated these denials, stating: "We never received any money – not from Russia, not from the MK Party, not from anyone. In fact, how much was that? We don’t know anything of such."
The 17 men have previously stated that they believed they were travelling to Russia for legitimate work opportunities. Several have since alleged that they were misled about the true nature of the situation and would not have gone had they known what awaited them.
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