South Africa Brings Home Citizens Coerced Into Fighting for Russia

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa confirmed that the government has successfully facilitated the return of citizens who were deceived into participating in combat for Russia, as reported by Bloomberg on February 24.

According to a statement from the president's office, four individuals returned to South Africa last week, with another 11 expected to return soon. One individual is currently hospitalized, and another is preparing to travel.

The men were recruited with the assistance of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma. Families of the affected individuals reported that the men were initially promised training as bodyguards, but were subsequently coerced into signing military contracts.

As reported by Bloomberg, since 1998, it has been illegal under South African law to fight for or assist a foreign military. Ramaphosa’s office stated that the investigation into the recruitment process is ongoing. Zuma-Sambudla, who is under investigation by South African police, resigned from her position in parliament on November 28, 2025, as a member of the political party led by her father.

The individuals involved in the recruitment remain under investigation, the president’s office added.

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War in Ukraine

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As part of Russia’s recruitment efforts, the online gaming platform Discord was reportedly used to attract young South African men to join its military campaign in Ukraine. The recruitment process promised military contracts, Russian citizenship, and educational opportunities as incentives.

Two South African men, both in their early twenties, left South Africa in July 2024 after engaging with a Discord user named “@Dash” while playing the military simulation game Arma 3. A source familiar with the case stated that the recruits met in Cape Town, visited the Russian consulate, and then traveled to Russia via the United Arab Emirates. Upon their arrival, they signed one-year military service contracts near Saint Petersburg.

After several weeks of basic training, one of the men was sent to Ukraine as an assistant grenade launcher operator. His family last heard from him in October and December 2025, they were notified by a friend that he had been killed.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia is expanding its media influence across Africa, spreading Kremlin-backed narratives in over 40 countries and in six different languages.

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