‘Our children were sold off’: The South Africans sent to fight Russia’s war
#South Africa #Russia #Ukraine #Wagner Group #Mercenaries #Human Trafficking #War
📌 Key Takeaways
- South African citizens are being recruited to fight in Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Families describe their loved ones as having been 'sold off' by recruiters.
- The recruitment process reportedly involves deception and coercion.
- These individuals face significant risks and potential legal consequences.
- Authorities are investigating the illegal recruitment of South Africans for foreign conflicts.
📖 Full Retelling
Men 'lured' into fighting in the Ukraine war say Africans were subjected to worse treatment on the front lines.
🏷️ Themes
Recruitment, Russia-Ukraine War, Human Rights
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Original Source
Features | Russia-Ukraine war ‘Our children were sold off’: The South Africans sent to fight Russia’s war Men ‘lured’ into fighting in the Ukraine war say Africans were subjected to worse treatment on the front lines. Listen to this article | 10 mins By Chris Makhaye Published On 5 Mar 2026 5 Mar 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save Add Al Jazeera on Google Durban, South Africa – When Sipho Dlamini* stepped off a plane from Russia, returning home to the South African port city of Durban last week, he carried nothing but the clothes on his back. “They made us burn everything we had,” the 32-year-old said. “Clothes, documents, even family photos. From the start, it was hell.” Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 Did ex-South African President Zuma’s daughter recruit for Russia’s war? list 2 of 3 ‘You either fight or die’: Kenyans tricked into joining Russia-Ukraine war list 3 of 3 South Africa secures return of 11 men ‘lured’ into Russia-Ukraine war end of list Dlamini is one of more than a dozen South Africans repatriated from Russia, where they say they were lured under false pretences and thrust onto the front lines of the war in Ukraine – mirroring the experience of other African men from countries including Kenya and Zimbabwe. In November last year, it came to light that several South Africans aged between 20 and 39 had been sent to Russia for what they believed would be security training. But soon after, they were conscripted into a paramilitary group and sent to fight in Ukraine. At the centre of the controversy is Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla – a daughter of South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma – who resigned as a lawmaker in December after she was implicated in the recruitment drive and the police opened an investigation against her. The recruits, many from the Zumas’ home region of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province, returned after current President Cyril Ramaphosa reached out to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for support in...
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