The war in Ukraine and the recruitment of South Africans
South Africans who found themselves in the war in Ukraine claim they were deceived into participating in the conflict on the side of Russia. These recruits faced harsh conditions, including a lack of food and medical assistance. In light of these events, an investigation is being conducted by an elite police unit from South Africa, likely linked to the former political elite of the country.
Recruit stories
One of the recruits is Dubandella, a father of three, who talks about promises of training for a VIP bodyguard position in Russia. However, the recruits did not understand the contracts in Russian that they signed in Rostov-on-Don. As a result, they ended up in war conditions where they face hunger and a lack of water.
Dubandella: 'Sometimes there is no food for even a week; sometimes there is no water.'
Additionally, in South Africa, investigations are underway concerning individuals involved in recruitment. Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, denies her involvement in these schemes. In other countries, such as Kenya, over 200 citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine as of November 2025. In Botswana, two cases have been recorded of South Africans being deceived with promises of employment. Furthermore, Nonkululeko Mantula has been brought to court for recruiting four men to participate in the war against Ukraine.
This situation raises concerns about the safety and well-being of South African citizens who have fallen victim to fraudulent schemes.
The issue of recruiting South Africans to participate in the war in Ukraine reflects broader trends related to the exploitation of economic hardships in developing countries. Given the existing conflicts and instability, such fraudulent schemes can pose a serious threat to the safety of people seeking better life opportunities. It also underscores the need for governments to strengthen measures to protect their citizens from such manipulations.