Ramaphosa Orders Urgent Probe into SA Men Lured into Russia-Ukraine War Trap

In a move to tackle growing concerns over the safety of South African citizens abroad, President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed authorities to launch a full investigation into how 17 young men were recruited into suspected mercenary activities in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. These men, aged between 20 and 39, hail mostly from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with 16 from the province and one from the Eastern Cape. They now find themselves stuck in the dangerous Donbas region of Ukraine, sending desperate pleas for help to return home. The presidency’s announcement on 6 November 2025 highlights the government’s strong stance against the exploitation of vulnerable youth by foreign military groups, amid South Africa’s sky-high unemployment rates that leave many open to such scams.

The men were tricked with promises of well-paying jobs in security or training programmes, only to end up forced into combat roles. This breach of South African law has sparked outrage, with families back home worried sick about their loved ones’ fate in a war zone far from home. As diplomatic efforts kick in to bring them back, questions swirl around who recruited them and how such a scheme slipped under the radar.

Distress Calls from the Frontlines Spark Government Action

The alarm bells rang when the South African government started getting urgent calls from the 17 men trapped in Donbas, a hotspot in eastern Ukraine under heavy fighting and partly occupied by Russian forces. [0] They described being lured to Russia under false pretences, thinking they were heading for bodyguard training or secure employment contracts. Instead, they were pressured to sign papers in Russian and thrown into the thick of the war, likely fighting on Russia’s side.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya shared that the men reached out in distress, begging for help to get out. “President Ramaphosa has directed that an investigation be undertaken into the circumstances that led to the recruitment of these young men into these seemingly mercenary activities,” Magwenya said. [1] The probe aims to uncover the full story behind their recruitment and hold those responsible accountable. Working through quiet diplomatic talks, the government is pushing hard to secure their safe return, though details on which side they are with remain unclear in official statements.
This is not just a one-off; Russia has been pulling in fighters from around the world since its full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, often dangling jobs or even citizenship as bait. [11] Groups from North Korea, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Cuba, Syria, Serbia, Nepal, and other African nations have been spotted in the mix, with North Koreans making up the biggest chunk.

Vulnerability Driven by Poverty and Joblessness

South Africa’s tough economic times play a big part in why these men fell for the trap. With unemployment sitting above 30%, and even higher for young people, many are desperate for any chance to earn a living. [10] KZN and the Eastern Cape, where most of these men come from, are among the hardest-hit areas, with wide poverty gaps that push families to the edge. KZN alone accounts for over a fifth of the country’s total poverty shortfall, clocking in at more than R4.7 billion, according to research.
Analysts point out that this desperation makes young South Africans easy targets for shady recruiters linked to foreign wars. [10] President Ramaphosa and his team have slammed this as outright exploitation, vowing to protect citizens from such schemes. “President Ramaphosa and the South African government strongly condemn the exploitation of young vulnerable people by individuals working with foreign military entities,” Magwenya stressed.

It’s against the law in South Africa to join foreign armies or act as mercenaries without government okay, under the 1998 Foreign Military Assistance Act. [11] Companies and groups are also barred from offering such services abroad. Breaking this can lead to hefty fines or jail time, putting extra weight on the ongoing probe.

Alleged Links to MK Party MP Raise Eyebrows

Adding a twist to the tale, some families claim the recruitment tied back to MK Party MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma. [13] They say the men were promised bodyguard training for the MK Party, but ended up on a plane to Russia. WhatsApp chats allegedly show Zuma-Sambudla trying to calm them down, suggesting roles like cooking or cleaning guns, and even claiming she did similar training herself.

The MK Party has quickly washed its hands of the mess, calling it a “Dudu matter” and not something the party is involved in. [13] Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said, “This is not an MK matter, it’s a Dudu matter,” and made clear he speaks for the party, not her personally. He added that without solid facts, the party won’t comment further, letting the law handle it. Zuma-Sambudla has filed her own case, and officials are looking into it.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, is on the case after a complaint from the office of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, another key political figure. This probe runs alongside the president’s wider investigation, focusing on the alleged recruitment into the conflict.

Broader Context of Foreign Recruitment in the War

This incident shines a light on Russia’s wider hunt for fighters to bolster its forces in Ukraine, where losses have been massive—over 281,000 Russian troops killed, wounded, missing, or captured. Allies like North Korea have sent thousands, with 14,000 troops recently heading to Russia’s Kursk region after Ukraine’s push there in August 2024. In June, Moscow announced another 6,000 from Pyongyang for rebuilding work.

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