South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that 11 of the 17 South African men allegedly lured into fighting in the Russia–Ukraine conflict under false pretences will soon return home.
The government has been working closely with Vladimir Putin to secure their safe repatriation. Ramaphosa expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to Putin and reiterated South Africa’s commitment to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict through negotiation. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that Putin pledged support for the men’s return during a recent phone call with Ramaphosa.
The 17 men, aged between 20 and 39 and mainly from KwaZulu-Natal, were reportedly misled into believing they would receive “skills training” in Russia but were instead sent to the frontlines in Ukraine. Four men have already returned, two remain in Russia—one hospitalised in Moscow and another undergoing travel processing—and the remaining 11 are expected home shortly.
The South African Police Service and the Hawks are investigating the recruitment process. Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Alliance has filed criminal charges against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) for alleged human trafficking, fraud, and violations of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, which prohibits South African citizens from joining foreign conflicts without government authorisation.
Zuma-Sambudla and the MKP have denied wrongdoing, claiming they were also victims of fraud by intermediaries.
