South African police detained and interrogated 11 men immediately after they arrived at Durban airport. The men were allegedly lured with high pay to fight as mercenaries for Russian forces in the Ukraine war. Investigations have expanded to include the daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, suspected of involvement in recruitment.
On Wednesday (25 Feb), a group of 11 South Africans claiming they were tricked into joining Russian forces to fight in the Ukraine war arrived at King Shaka International Airport in Durban. Under police protection, they were taken to an airport police station for questioning about the circumstances that brought them to the war frontlines.
Reports indicated that one of the men had to be wheeled off the plane, while others carried baggage resembling military gear. Their return raised the total number of South African citizens repatriated with assistance to 15. Two others remain in Russia; President Cyril Ramaphosa said one is hospitalized and the other is awaiting travel documents.
A police spokesperson said an investigation has been launched because South African law prohibits citizens from participating in foreign conflicts without government permission. Officials are probing at least five individuals linked to recruiting these men, including Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma.
Although she denied all allegations, Duduzile recently resigned from her parliamentary seat after being implicated. Some men in the group are reportedly Zuma family members directly recruited by her. Five suspects arrested last December are scheduled to face court in April on charges related to military recruitment.
The South African government said it received distress signals from the men in December, reporting they were trapped in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, a site of intense fighting. The men, aged 20 to 39, claimed they were deceived into signing contracts promising high pay before discovering they were sent as mercenaries.
This case in South Africa aligns with reports of increasing recruitment of African men to fight in Ukraine. Intelligence presented to Kenya's parliament last week indicated over 1,000 Kenyans have also been recruited to participate in the conflict.