Racism, Abuse Alleged by SA Men Recruited to Fight in Ukraine
- A group of South Africans claimed they were deceived into fighting for Russia in Ukraine under false pretences
- The men reported receiving only a week of training before being sent into active combat, facing severe consequences
- Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is linked to the recruitment allegations, with financial exchanges during negotiations
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Justin Williams, a journalist at Briefly News since 2024, covers South Africa’s current affairs. Before joining Briefly News, he served as a writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa’s South African chapter.
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A group of South Africans stated that they were lured to Russia under false pretences and forced to fight in Ukraine. They alleged they faced racist abuse and minimal training before being sent to the front lines.
Trained for only a week before deployment
Four men returned home this weekend. They said they were trained for only a week and then deployed into active combat. They claimed they were stripped of their identities. One reportedly lost a leg. Jabulani Khumalo, the expelled founder of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), was at the airport to receive them. He said the group intended to speak to the men in detail about their experiences.
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Khumalo alleged that individuals linked to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, recruited the men while campaigning for the MK Party. He said they had been promised bodyguard training for senior party members, but were instead sent to a war zone. He further alleged that money changed hands, citing figures of R14 million and R34 million during recruitment negotiations. Five people have been charged in connection with the alleged recruitment. Khumalo said Zuma-Sambudla's resignation from Parliament was linked to the controversy. It remains unclear how many South Africans are still in the conflict zone or whether all are alive.
Source: Getty Images
Other stories about the SA men recruited to Ukraine
Briefly News also reported that Thulani Mahlangu, the lawyer representing the families of 17 South African men allegedly sent to Russia under false pretences, has confirmed that the remaining 13 men are on their way home. The men, all allegedly recruited by the MK party, were reportedly promised work opportunities abroad but were instead sent to fight in the war in Ukraine. The revelation has sparked outrage among their families, who feared for the safety of their loved ones.
Two of the South Africans currently fighting on the front lines in Ukraine have been severely wounded. The men were part of a group, mostly from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), who were reportedly promised lucrative work or training as bodyguards for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. When they arrived, they were instead forced to fight in the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, received sharp criticism in Parliament on 18 February 2026 when he accused uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party president Jacob Zuma of being responsible for the 19 men who are trapped in Donbas in Ukraine. He also explained the difficulties the government encountered in repatriating the South Africans.
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Source: Briefly News
