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Daughter of Former South African President Exposed for Luring South Africans to Fight for Russia
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![Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk]( "Photo of Cyril Barabaltchouk")
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The daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, has been implicated in recruiting men from South Africa and Botswana to fight for Russian forces in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on November 19.
According to people familiar with the matter, WhatsApp messages and relatives of the recruits, around 20 young men were lured to Russia in July under the pretext of receiving bodyguard training for the Zuma family’s political party, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). However, they were instead sent to the frontlines in Ukraine.
These recruits, who lost contact with their families in August, had signed military contracts written entirely in Russian, unaware of their true mission. Mercenary work or fighting for a foreign government is illegal in South Africa.
The South African government has launched an investigation, and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office is working through diplomatic channels to secure the return of the recruits, according to Bloomberg.
Duduzile Zuma, a member of the South African Parliament, had reassured families that their loved ones would not be sent to the frontlines, even as photos and messages showed them in military uniforms.
In earlier communications, she promised to personally retrieve the men if they were sent to combat zones. However, she has since been unresponsive to inquiries from the families, Bloomberg wrote.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, domestic media across Africa have reported on the recruitment of African citizens to fight for Russia against Ukraine.
Previously, it was reported that at least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries are fighting in the ranks of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported.
According to Sybiha, that figure includes only those positively identified, and the actual number may be higher.
“According to available information, at least 1436 citizens from 36 African countries are currently fighting in the ranks of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine. The number represents those identified, though the actual number could be higher,” Sybiha said.
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-e027084132fee1ae6b313d8b1d5dfc34.jpg "SBU Reportedly Strikes Russian Oil Platforms for the Second Time This Week in the Caspian Sea")
