Key Takeaways:
- 17 South African men, including a 20-year-old son of a father named Dubandlela, were allegedly recruited by a mercenary group and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine under false pretenses.
- The men were promised elite training as VIP bodyguards in Russia, but instead found themselves on the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine, facing grave danger and harsh conditions.
- The alleged recruitment scam has been linked to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who has denied any involvement.
- The incident has sparked an investigation by the Hawks, a South African law enforcement agency, and has raised concerns about the recruitment of African nationals to fight in the Ukraine conflict.
- Other African countries, including Kenya and Botswana, have also reported cases of their citizens being duped into joining the war in Ukraine.
Introduction to the Scam
The story of Dubandlela’s son is a tragic example of how young men from South Africa and other African countries are being lured into the conflict in Ukraine under false pretenses. In July, Dubandlela’s 20-year-old son signed up for what he thought was elite training as a VIP bodyguard in Russia. However, five months later, Dubandlela is in despair, as his son has found himself on the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine, facing grave danger and harsh conditions. Dubandlela blames himself for not being able to afford university fees for his son, which led him to seek out other opportunities.
The Alleged Recruitment Scam
The alleged recruitment scam came to light on November 6, when distress calls were made by 17 South African men who said they were trapped in Donbas, a region in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian forces. The men claimed that they had been conscripted by an unspecified mercenary group and sent to join Russian forces in Ukraine. An investigation by the Hawks has focused on the alleged involvement of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma. Zuma-Sambudla has denied any involvement in the scam, but her resignation as a lawmaker in the MK Party has raised questions about her role in the incident.
Conditions on the Front Lines
The conditions faced by the South African recruits on the front lines of the conflict in Ukraine are harsh and dangerous. Dubandlela’s son has sent photos from the front lines, showing him in combat fatigues and holding an AK-47 assault rifle. He has also described the harsh conditions, including digging trenches in the freezing cold, going without food or water for days, and taking cover from Ukrainian drones. The recruits have also been subjected to basic military training and have been forced to load artillery shells into launchers. The man who shared the WhatsApp exchanges with Reuters said that he and the other recruits frequently had their phones taken off them and often ate just bread and tinned fish.
International Implications
The incident has sparked concerns about the recruitment of African nationals to fight in the Ukraine conflict. Kenya has reported that over 200 of its citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, and authorities in Botswana have said that two men were duped into joining the war under false promises of jobs. Ukraine’s foreign minister has said that more than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The incident has also raised questions about the role of Russia in the recruitment of foreign fighters and the use of mercenaries in the conflict.
Personal Stories of Loss
The incident has also had a personal toll on the families of the recruits. Dubandlela’s son has told his father that he wants to come home, and Dubandlela is desperate to get him back. The mother of a 22-year-old Kenyan man, David Kuloba, who was killed in an explosion on the front line, is still waiting for answers about her son’s death. The incident has highlighted the human cost of the conflict in Ukraine and the need for greater awareness and action to prevent the recruitment of African nationals to fight in the war.
Government Response
The South African government has said that it is taking the incident seriously and is working to retrieve the young men from Ukraine. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that the case is "receiving the highest possible attention" and that the government is in discussions with various authorities, both in Russia and Ukraine, to free the men from the situation. The Hawks are also investigating the incident, and the MK Party has said that Zuma-Sambudla’s resignation is not an admission of guilt. However, the incident has raised questions about the government’s response to the recruitment of African nationals to fight in the Ukraine conflict and the need for greater action to prevent such incidents in the future.